Clovis Fire Department works on putting out a fire Wednesday morning at the Clovis Apartments on Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez boulevards.

Though relief organizations are doing all they can for displaced victims of Wednesday’s fire, disaster relief is short term, according to Erinn Burch, director of United Way of Eastern New Mexico. Families may not be eligible for Red Cross aid if they procrastinate, Burch said.

“The community’s generosity is very needed due to the challenges of finding long-term housing in a tight rental market,” Burch said. Displaced families staying in hotels have only one week to relocate, Burch said.

The Clovis Apartment Fire Recovery Council is asking the public to help find rental homes for the families.

Burch said six families displaced by Wednesday’s fire did not apply for assistance.

Displaced families are advised to contact the agency immediately.

United Way of Eastern New Mexico donated $3,500 Thursday from its general disaster fund to the Salvation Army, Lighthouse Mission and Red Cross to aid in the relief effort.

Other donations Thursday, according to Burch, include:

• Hideaway Self Storage donated a storage unit to each of the 12 displaced families, to store donated items.

• Clovis business contractor Ed Perales housed two families in vacant rental properties.