A Boothbay Harbor family lost their home and pets to a fire Christmas night. The community responded by raising $25,000 to help the family rebuild.
A cat and two dogs died in the fire at 57 Lakeview Rd., across from the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn and a short walk from the St. Andrews campus of LincolnHealth.
Boothbay Harbor Fire Chief Nick Upham said the fire originated in the area of a refrigerator and “could have been an electrical problem with the refrigerator” or the refrigerator’s power source.
A relative set up an online fundraiser at www.gofundme.com/jbo7rw with the goal to raise $10,000 to offset the family’s immediate expenses of food, clothes, and shelter. As of 7 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 30, 274 people have donated $25,051.
The funds will benefit homeowners and newlyweds Matt and Kate Rice and Matt Rice’s 11-year-old son, Sullivan. Matt and Kate Rice married Aug. 16. Their first child together is due in May.
Matt Rice works as a lobsterman and Kate Rice teaches pre-kindergarten at Boothbay Region Elementary School.
“On Christmas evening, Matt Rice returned home after a nearby holiday family gathering to find smoke billowing out of their home,” according to the site. “He frantically tried to save the two dogs and one cat, but was forced out by blinding smoke.
“The firefighters did everything they could to save the home, but it was a total loss. Their beloved pets could not be saved.”
“Everything they lost is too overwhelming to comprehend,” according to the site. “They have many friends reaching out to help, so this site is a tangible way to do just that.
“Thank you for your compassion and caring toward this amazing family. Continue to hold Kate, Matt, Sullivan, and baby Rice in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate the slow process of rebuilding their home.”
Lincoln County Communications paged the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department at 8:36 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 25.
The house was “fully involved” when firefighters arrived, Upham said. “We had it knocked down within 45 minutes and we had it out completely within probably an hour and a half.”
“The home was a total loss,” Upham said.
The fire rekindled during the early-morning hours, and Lincoln County Communications again paged the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department at 4:41 a.m., Friday, Dec. 26. Firefighters quickly extinguished the secondary fire.
The Boothbay, Edgecomb, Newcastle, and Southport fire departments assisted Boothbay Harbor at the scene.
