American Red Cross volunteers responded to a multi-unit home fire on the 1800 block of South Ninth Street in Mattoon on Wednesday. After the home fire, Red Cross volunteers ensure that everyone affected has a place to stay, food, clothing and emotional support. They are currently assisting two adults and seven children.

The volunteers that were on the scene of Wednesday’s home fire, were members of the local Disaster Action Team, which is a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night.

More than 225 families receive assistance in the south central Illinois area from the American Red Cross chapter serving the region. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, the American Red Cross serving south central Illinois assisted 349 families after a disaster.