MARLINTON, W.V a. – The American Red Cross says it’s doing all it can to help 7 families that are now homeless after a major fire in downtown Marlinton.
The blaze took out an entire city block Sunday morning, including apartments in the old Marlinton Bank building. 
Red Cross spokesperson Krista Farley Raines said the 9 adults and 3 children were lucky to get out alive.
“They went out with the clothes on their back!”
The Red Cross was on hand as soon as they got word about the fire.
“We have had disaster volunteers on the ground since Sunday,” according to Farley Raines.
The 7 families have been staying at a hotel in Marlinton. Now the Red Cross is assisting them in finding long term housing. Farley Raines said there have been offers of security deposit and rent free housing for the first month. There’s also a clothing drive underway and the Pendleton Community Bank is taking monetary donations to help the families get back on their feet. That doesn’t come as a surprise.
“People that know Marlinton know it’s a very small community. Everybody pitches in and comes together. The response has been overwhelming,” Farley Raines said.
The families will have to pick up the pieces for months to come. Right now the Red Cross is trying to meet their immediate needs.
“We’ll continue to help them and identify other needs they have, medical needs, prescriptions. Anything they lost, we’ll try to get them replacements,” said Farley Raines.
Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the blaze.
If you would like to donate to the families, you can make a check out to Marlinton Fire and send it c/o Pendleton Community Bank, P.O. Box 87, Marlinton, WV 24954. You can drop clothes off at the Marlinton community building.