[2] St. Anthony's Hospital in Effingham, Illinois, was operated by the Sisters of St. Francis, who lived in a convent next door.
The department was small and only had three pumping engines and no ladder trucks or other equipment to rescue patients trapped on the second or third floors.
A total of 74 people died, including patients, nurses, nuns, a priest and Frank Ries, the hospital engineer who ran into the flames to try to rescue his wife.
[9] A historian for the Effingham County Museum stated that about 88% of the victims were either female or under the age of 12 years-old.
[7] The Red Cross set up an inquiry bureau in the town to help victims and survivors family and friends identify and locate them.
Blood plasma, blankets and other medical and relief supplies were also donated to victims by the Red Cross.