The Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting residents after an Oct. 25 apartment fire in Maryland Circle, Whitehall Township.

Emergency personnel were called to the area about 3 a.m. after reports of a fire at Independence Square Apartments.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated.

Despite heavy smoke, investigators were able to pinpoint the fire’s origination to a storage closet on the building’s second floor.

About a dozen apartments were reported to be badly damaged.

The Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to the scene around 6 a.m. An evacuation center was established at Temple Beth El, Allentown, to provide residents affected by the fire with comfort, care, food, resources and other emergency assistance.

According to the Red Cross, caseworkers will continue to help the impacted residents in the days and weeks ahead by working with community partners to ensure the residents receive the resources they need to recover from this disaster.

Anyone in need of Red Cross assistance can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). All Red Cross disaster assistance is free.