Several families were left homeless for the holidays when a fire tore through two buildings in Gowanus.

The fire broke out around 11 a.m. Thursday in an apartment building on Ninth Street between Second and Third avenues. It quickly spread to the building next door.

Vicenta Martinez lived in one of the buildings with her family for 20 years. She returned Friday morning to try and salvage some of what she lost.

The Red Cross says it is helping 12 tenants as several families were displaced. Some who visited the building along with Martinez say they don't know what they will do when the assistance runs out.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the FDNY fire marshal.