Red Cross helps fire victims

GALES FERRY, Conn. (WTNH) -- The Red Cross is helping eight people in two families after overnight fires in Gales Ferry and Niantic.

In Gales Ferry, the Red Cross is providing help with emergency clothing and food needs to a family of five, two adults and three children, after a fire on Nutmeg Rd.

In Niantic, the Red Cross is helping a family of two adults and one child after a fire on Cubles Dr.

Both families had alternate housing arrangements.

According to the Red Cross, the fires were part of a busier than average night, as they were operating two shelters in Southeastern Connecticut as a result of the blizzard that struck the state on Friday and Saturday.

"We had nearly 200 people at shelters in East Lyme and Stonington on Saturday night," said American Red Cross spokesperson Paul Shipman. "We are very grateful to the volunteers who have helped to shelter and comfort families during this historic storm, especially when many of them were facing their own issues of power outages and transportation concerns."