Eight families were affected Thursday when fire tore through the Pine Tree Plaza apartment building in Troy.

Some of them were stranded in frigid weather with very little clothing, according to a news release Friday from the Montana Red Cross.

“The Red Cross had to move quickly to make sure the affected families had shelter, clothing, food and other essentials,” Anna Fernández-Gevaert said in the news release. “While the Lincoln disaster team was ready to respond immediately, staff and volunteers from Kalispell and Missoula were needed to handle the incident’s heavy caseload.

“Several families were put up in a local hotel while others received other types of Red Cross emergency relief assistance, including clothing and comfort kits.” 

One apartment occupant, Eric Howe, was burned as he helped his girlfriend and 3-year-old son escape the flames. He is being treated at the University of Utah Burn Center.

Troy firefighters worked from the early morning hours into the afternoon on the fire, which kept U.S. 2 partially closed during the day.

The Troy incident was the latest in a series of unfortunate events that has involved responses from the Red Cross.

“In the last week alone, Montana Red Cross volunteers have helped families cope with home fires in Troy, Butte, Lolo, Browning, Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, Moore, Deer Lodge and Bearcreek,” Fernández-Gevaert said in the news release. 

“During that same week, the organization has also assisted individuals and families stranded by power outages, flooded basements and blizzards as Montana residents endured one of the longest December cold spells in recent memory.”  

This surge in need has taxed Red Cross resources, so the organization is asking Montanans for financial support to help them get ready for future emergencies.   

To help those affected by the home fires and other disasters, people can donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. 

Visit www.redcross.org/montana or call (800) ARC-MONT (1-800-272-6668). Contributions may also be sent to American Red Cross of Montana, 1300 28th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405. 

Here are a few examples of what financial support can do: $25 will pay for 10 Red Cross comfort kits that contain basic supplies people need following a disaster; $50 provides a full day of food and shelter for one person; $100 covers the cost of five clean-up kits to begin recovery immediately following a disaster; and $200 provides food and shelter for a family of four who have just lost everything.

“The American Red Cross of Montana touches lives every day,” said Diane Wright, chief development officer for Montana Red Cross. “Members of our Armed Forces find comfort. Someone in urgent need receives a blood transfusion. Families that have lost everything, like some of the families in Troy yesterday, discover hope. 

“But none of this would happen without the help and financial support of the people of Montana. We rely on the incredible generosity of Montanans and we need their help now more than ever.”

The Red Cross listed other ways people can help this holiday season: Sign up to volunteer, donate blood or take a first aid class.