A fire that originated in a second-storey apartment in Elsipogtog First Nation has caused serious injuries to one person and displaced the tenants of 14 apartment units.

Chief Brent Goodwin of the Rexton Fire Department said his firefighters were called at about 11 p.m. Wednesday to assist the Elsipogtog department in the community about 90 kilometres north of Moncton.

He estimated the complex consisting of two buildings on Main Street contains 32 apartment units.

The fire originated in a unit on the second floor of one building.

"One unit was totally destroyed," Goodwin said. "There's damage in the roof of the second storey, fire and water damage, but the building is still standing. A lot of the apartments appear to be OK on the other end."

Tenants in the second building weren't affected.

Dan Bedell, spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross, said in a tweet that the agency is working with the chief and band council of Elsipogtog First Nation on emergency lodging, clothing and other needs.

Volunteers are gathering donations at the Elsipogtog community hall, including clothes and food for people displaced by the fire.

RCMP Sgt. Pierre-Luc Hache said the Elsipogtog and Richibucto RCMP assisted the fire department on the scene.

One man suffered what appeared to be serious injuries and was taken to hospital, Hache said.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but Hache said it was not believed to be suspicious.

According to Goodwin, Elsipogtog firefighters had the fire knocked down by the time the Rexton crew arrived. Flames were extinguished by about 1 a.m. Thursday.