Seventy families and individuals displaced by the North Union apartment fire in Midvale have been placed into free temporary Airbnb housing, but the program closes Saturday, Aug. 8. That deadline is three days away. Displaced residents who haven't applied yet can call 211 or visit 211utah.org before it expires.

The July 31 blaze at 942 N. Union Ave. forced evacuations from 220 occupied units and sent hundreds of residents scrambling for shelter. As we reported that day, Sandy firefighters responded as mutual aid to the four-alarm fire, and the Red Cross relocated its emergency shelter to Fort Union Middle School at 615 East 8000 South in Sandy after air conditioning failed at the original Hillcrest High School site.

Now the recovery effort has a new home. Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 5, United Way and Red Cross staff are operating out of Midvale City Hall to help displaced residents access housing and other resources, Fox 13 reported.

The housing program works through a partnership between United Way of Salt Lake City, 211 Utah and airbnb.org, Airbnb's emergency-housing nonprofit. Todd McGee, managing director for 211 Utah, explained how it works to Fox 13:

"You'll get a credit in your Airbnb account that's good for about 10 days of residence at an Airbnb," McGee said. "And it's just like a normal Airbnb stay at zero cost to the person who was displaced."

Shauna Palafox and her boyfriend Adam Ella escaped the fire with only their cat, a box of important papers and the clothes on their backs. They've since been placed in a free Airbnb stay and were greeted with a personal welcome note from their host.

Another displaced couple, Skyler Montalvo and Savanah Beazer, lost their home and their animals in the blaze. Montalvo told Fox 13 they went from housed to homeless in roughly two hours.

McGee told ABC4 on Aug. 3 that anyone in the community can dial 211 or visit 211utah.org for assistance, not just fire victims.

Residents who want to donate clothing, food or other supplies can drop items at local Savers, Crossroads Urban Center and Deseret Industries locations.