PEORIA, Ill (WMBD) – UPDATE: At least five families have been displaced after an apartment fire early Wednesday morning.
The American Red Cross, Peoria Fire Department, and the Lexington Hills apartment manager set up an area to screen residents while social distancing.
Lyn Hruska, Regional Director of the American Red Cross says they helped five families (9 adults, 5 children) after 11 apartment units were affected.
“COVID-19 has changed the way that we are responding but it certainly hasn’t changed the services we provide. To the people who experienced the fire last night, we provided financial assistance, comfort kits, blankets,” Hruska said.
Hruska says they also provided physical and mental health services to the families.
“It’s an interesting time where everyone is practicing social distancing and additional hygiene measures and keeping everyone safe. Unfortunately, house fires are still happening. We have had to adjust some of our protocols to make sure we keep our volunteers safe but also the residents we are providing care and comfort for,” Hruska said.
A number of families are displaced after an overnight apartment fire on Wednesday.
The Peoria Fire Department and paramedics arrived at Lexington Hills Apartments around 1:30 a.m and saw heavy smoke coming from inside of the building.
Firefighters went inside and rescued four people from the third floor of a building. Peoria Fire Battalion Chief Micheal Hughes said the fire started on the second floor.
Those victims were taken to St. Francis Hospital and are expected to be ok.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This story will be updated.
