JAY — All Spruce Mountain schools and the Town Office are collecting monetary donations and gift cards for a family of seven who lost their home at 5 Stone St. to fire late Monday afternoon.
No one was injured and a dog was OK, Fire Rescue Chief Mike Booker said.
A 7-year-old child was in a room, noticed the fire and left the room, Booker said. The children’s ages range from 7 to 15, he said.
One child and mother were at an appointment when the fire was reported at 5:01 p.m. Some of the other children were at neighbors, Booker said.
Dana Churchill, who lives at the home, arrived shortly after the fire started and called 911.
“We extinguished the fire pretty quickly,” Booker said. “The home is a total loss. There was no insurance.”
State fire investigators Jeremy Damren and Kenneth McMasters of the Office of the State Fire Marshal investigated the scene.
The fire is related to a juvenile, Sgt. Joel Davis of the fire marshal’s office, said.
Town Clerk Ronda Palmer is the local coordinator for the Salvation Army, which paid for the family to stay two days at Wilson Lake Inn in Wilton. The Red Cross was also called to help, Booker said.
The home is owned by the heirs of Beonka Kessinger in care of Dana Churchill, personal representative. Kessinger, the mother of two children, died at age 35 in 2016 after she lost her battle with pancreatic cancer.
About 25 firefighters from departments in Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls and Wilton, along with Farmington Fire Rescue rapid intervention team, Jay police and NorthStar EMS ambulance personnel responded to the scene.
Firefighters were called back about 11 p.m. when the fire rekindled.
Those who wish to contribute money or gift cards can leave them at any Spruce Mountain school or the Town Office.
Donations can be dropped off at the Area Youth Sports building at 25 Cedar St. in Livermore Falls, the former Livermore Falls High School, from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday or Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The children’s clothing sizes are: 14-year-old boy, large shirt, 32 by 32 pants, men’s shoe size 11; 15-year-old boy, medium shirt, 30 by 32 pants, men’s shoe size 11; 10-year-old boy, 8/10 shirt and pants, size 4 shoes; 7-year-old boy, 8 shirt and pants, size 1 shoe; 12-year-old girl, small shirt, 8 jeans, size 7 shoes.
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