Something I just figured out.

[garchangel]

As someone who lives in aurora zone (Canada) the red glow could have been northern lights but was likely the sun! Even at our latitude of 50 degrees N, we don't get true night but more of a very dark twilight in the summer. Further north there is more of a dawn effect on the horizon almost all night. Northern lights, however, are most often green (but sometimes red) and glide across the sky quickly or form curtains that change shape.