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ROBIN ERICKSON Director of Communications
PHONE (401) 831-7700 x101 E-MAIL [email protected]
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Tuesday, December 3, 2002 Red Cross Responds to Afternoon Fire in
Providence -- Crosses One-Thousand Mark in Victims Assisted
American Red Cross of Rhode Island workers were called to the scene of a fire at 49 Douglas Ave. in
Providence around noon today. Two families were forced out of their homes into the bitter cold temperatures.
The Red Cross is providing meals and hotel accommodations to the victims. Thirteen
people --- a total of eight adults and five children --- are being assisted.
With this incident, the Red Cross has broken the one-thousand mark in the
number of Rhode Islanders assisted in 2002. Counting today's families, the Red Cross has assisted 1,006 Rhode Islanders who are the victims of fire or other disasters, year-to-date.
This is the 163rd fire the Red Cross has responded to this year.
In 2001, the American Red Cross of Rhode Island assisted 379 Rhode Island families
who were forced from their home as a result of a fire or other disaster.
The Red Cross typically spends $1,000 per family of four it assists. All Red Cross
assistance is free. The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on private donations to provide emergency assistance to Rhode Islanders in crisis.
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