CORINTH, Maine — Tragedy struck a local family Friday morning as a camper fire claimed the life of a 7-year-old boy.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office identified the boy as Christian Rand, whose body was discovered in the burned-out trailer just after 9:30 a.m.
When firefighters went to the scene, the trailer was engulfed in flames.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” Sgt. Tim York of the State Fire Marshal’s Office said early Friday afternoon.
York added that officials don’t know where the fire started yet.
The boy’s parents — Amanda and Nicholas Rand — weren’t home when the fire broke out, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland. McCausland said the boy was home from school Friday because of illness and was asleep in the trailer at the time of the fire.
Asked whether the boy was alone, York said Friday evening, “I’m not at liberty to discuss the details of the investigation.” However, when asked who reported the fire, York said, “The grandmother in the house next door.”
The camper was located on property owned by a relative of the Rands at 1487 Main St. in Corinth, about a half-mile north of the Kenduskeag town line, York said.
When reporters arrived on the scene just after 10 a.m., a firefighter blocked access to the driveway, and Nicholas and Amanda Rand were seen sobbing and being consoled by members of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department.
The trailer was not visible from Route 15.
Crews from Corinth, Hudson, Glenburn and Bradford battled the blaze, while state police officers were brought in to aid the fire marshal’s office in the investigation.
The boy’s body will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Augusta this weekend for an autopsy, according to York. He said he hopes it will give authorities some leads in the case.
“At this point we’re not exactly sure the sequence of events that occurred,” York said when asked how the fire started. “We’re going to wait for the results of the autopsy.”
The sergeant added it’s unknown whether criminal charges will be filed in the case.
“At this point, it’s something that we’re talking about and I’m not sure that we’ve made a determination on how we’re going to proceed from this point,” York said.
York added that space heaters were used to heat the trailer, which was destroyed in the fire. All that remained of the structure was a lone wall.
The boy was a student at Kenduskeag Elementary School, according to York. He said Christian Rand had an older brother who was in school at the time of the fire.
Traffic on Route 15 was reduced to one lane while crews battled the fire. York said Amanda and Nicholas Rand are staying with relatives.
There was a fire at the same residence on June 27, 2001, according to Bangor Daily News archives. Clyde Richards lived there at the time and the mailbox still has the name “Richards” on it.
BDN writers Nok-Noi Ricker and Dawn Gagnon contributed to this report.
State Police have confirmed that a 7 yr old boy has died in the fire.
Very sad news.
It is very sad news if there was a boy inside. I have not heard anything yet. Waiting on news
He was in the Camper..
some people can’t afford to live in apartments or can’t afford homes. even an apartment at 500/month is still expensive for people trying to survive in this state and in this economy.
Where were the parents? Why was a 7 year old home alone? Just horrible!
Working to survive and provide for their family maybe?
It’s a tough economy, and many jobs you can’t just “call out” of or you could lose your job.
this is terrible though,
condolences to the family.
No parent should ever get that call that their child has been lost in what is suppose to be the safest place, home. And remember that this was the parents home too. The meaning of losing everything takes a horrible reality. Put your questions aside right now because I am sure that the parents needent be reminded of their mistakes right now. Be gentle and kind. As for leaving a 7 year old alone…I would have left my second son home when he was 2, but my older son shouldn’t be left alone until he is 50! Every child is different.
Seriously? Two????
i agree. not that i would, but i would definitely trust leaving my youngest (4) home before i would my oldest(7). my middle(5) i guess depends on the day but likely not.
This is so very sad.
7 yrs. old and left alone. I can think of nothing any more heartbreaking than the loss of a child in a manner such as this. NO amount of words can alleviate the grief of the parents. So sorry for all.
Article didn’t say the child was left alone….it said the parents were away at the time. It also says that the camper was at a relatives property. Perhaps that relative was babysitting him??
I can’t imagine living with the consequences of what these parents now have to live with for the rest of their lives.
That is just so sad. I cant imagine leaving a 7 year old home alone. Rest in peace little guy
prayers and condolences for the parents and family of the child.
This is a tragedy that no parent should ever have to endure.
OMG. How horrible. Prayers to family.
So tragic. Hopefully this will be a warning to other parents, 7 years old is too young to be left alone.
My heart goes out to the family of this child… but what was he doing home alone at 7 years old.
For those that do not know this family please dont place blame on any of them! They are good people with the biggest hearts and would give you all that they had to make your life better. The circumstances behind this story have not been reported so there is no place for judgement. This is a complete heart ache for this family, please be kind and for those of you with children we as parents try to provide the very best we know how for our children and we all do things and think back wow that wasnt very smart, I could have put my child in danger and its little things we dont even think of, it only takes a second and we could lose them forever so please if you have children hold them and tell them you love them because you may never have another chance. As for this family my heart breaks for all of you and I wish I could take away this pain and hurt, please be strong for one another and God will see you through.
Why was he in a “camper” at this time of year???? Or is it possible to survive a winter in a camper in that part of Maine….And Alone….?
….
Circumstances don’t always allow people to live in apartments or houses!
I’ve lived in a camper in winter before.
It sucks, but i did it because i was flat broke and couldn’t afford 500/month even with working what jobs i could find, (3 part time jobs) and i was single.
when’s the last time you had 1,500 to 2,000 dollars to move into a place?
If you’re working multiple part time jobs and trying to keep your head above water then you probably don’t have the money to do so!
It’s a bad economy, and people are struggling.
we don’t know the facts, but give people a break.
Life isn’t all golden roads and affordable for most Mainers.
If you have to live in a camper this time of year then that most likely means that you are struggling and cannot afford to not work.
But that STILL does NOT excuse them LEAVING a SICK 7(SEVEN) Year Old ALONE, in one! Just because you have to live in one for awhile, doesn’t mean you have to leave your young child in one ALONE, and SICK! They could have called the school, explained they had no child care and he was sick, and they couldn’t get off from work, I know the school would not have left him alone! I am %100 positive there were some more options for this little guy then to die in a a FIRE alone!
How do you know he was alone? There may have been someone with him, that had to run into the house to get him a glass of water or a popcicle, while mom ran to the drugstore to get him some medicine. How can you be so quick to judge and be so cruel without knowing all the facts. SHAME on you.
Im just asking if its done, I live way further north and much colder of course, i have just never heard of that being done, seems to me the heat would be way too expensive to try to do that….
most people use electric heaters which is why there are so many fires in campers during the winter
I don’t recall a better time to pray then right now for this family.
I know the parents and the children and this is a tragedy! No one should ever have to go through this. No one knows what happened and yet people are judging based on little information. First there should be sorrow for the lost life of a sweet little boy, and last there should be no blame place unless certain it was intentionally done, and I as positive it was a horrible accident.
So very sad
Condolences to the family of this horrible tragedy.
@Bullet… You make a good point.
“Circumstances don’t always allow people to live in apartments or houses!
I’ve lived in a camper in winter before.
It sucks, but i did it because i was flat broke and couldn’t afford 500/month even with working what jobs i could find, (3 part time jobs) and i was single.
when’s the last time you had 1,500 to 2,000 dollars to move into a place?
If you’re working multiple part time jobs and trying to keep your head above water then you probably don’t have the money to do so!
It’s a bad economy, and people are struggling.
we don’t know the facts, but give people a break.
Life isn’t all golden roads and affordable for most Mainers.
If you have to live in a camper this time of year then that most likely means that you are struggling and cannot afford to not work.”
No place in the article does it state he was home alone. It states he was in a “camper trailer” at a relatives and his parents were not at the scene. There are numerous people in this state who cannot afford a conventional home, and a tow-behind camper on a small piece of property is extremely common in northern Maine.
Until the case is elaborated on further, I think everyone needs to be respectful of the family and not assume the worst case scenario.
How very sad…the poor little boy. Why was he alone? RIP little guy!
A 7 year old, ill or not, should not be left home alone. The article says, “the parents were away,” not that they were at work, so assumptions certainly can be made, while not passing judgement.
To all you questioning about a seven year old child being left home alone, I was 50 years ago. If I was home sick from school and my mother had errands to run, she left me home alone. She would tell a neighbor and told me to call them if I needed anything.
I was latchkey kid from a very young age as well. It’s frowned upon these days but I think I’m better for it.
I don’t think the public should judge these parents on what they are reading, I think you need to wait until a determination and facts are presented, plenty of time for opinions after all facts are stated. Praying for all that loved this little one for comfort and strength.
SHAME on YOU!!! How dare you people jump to cruel conclusions on so little information. When your children are sick, do you sit constantly by their side? Sometimes we have to leave the room to get food, water or medicine for a sick child. How do you know this child was ALONE??? Someone could have been with him, but had to run in the house for one reason or another. Have some compassion for a family that lost a child and keep them in your prayers. Keep your stupid armchair judgements to yourself.
My heart is truely out there for these people!! I could not imagine the situation they have come into!! I do not judge others as I expect others do not judge me, and all I can say is I am soooo sorry!! They were obviously in hard times and were trying to work and support their children!! OMG!! We all have been put into situation where we have to try to do the right things and hope and pray that we have done the right thing!! In this situation I just know the parents of this child are going to need a lot of help trying to get through the loss of their child and suffering the guilt that will probably stay with them forever!! I am praying for them to get through this tragic time in their life!! :o(
Such a tragedy. It is not fair to pass judgement on this poor family as we only know what has been reported. The parents now has to deal with the loss of their son which is enough.
Children are a precious gift from God that can be taken away at any time. Just remember to tell your children everyday you love them and tonight hold them a little longer…I know I will!
Some of the “comments” on this tragedy are examples to why I strongly believe that if you want to post to the forum, sign it with your name. I wonder how likely folks would be to post such hurtful, uniformed garbage. Some of you should be ashamed of yourselves. I am begging BDN to change it’s policy,as many other forums have already done, to one in which posters real names are used. If that is a problem for some of you , so be it. Maybe it will end some of the disgusting , near evil comments I see posted in these forums.
Rocky Marshall.
I have lived in a camper before for three winters by choice and it was clean and warm and cozy, probably better than some apartments so I don’t think the camper should be an issue. When we know more of the facts it will be sorted out what the real issue was. Was he home alone, did he have a babysitter, did he actually live in the camper or did he go out to play in it and maybe try to light the stove himself? So many things could have happened. I certainly hope he wasn’t home alone for all day with no one else around because there would be no defense for that. I would hate to think that we are back in the times before unions 100 years ago that employers would fire you for having a sick child. Your child or your job should never be a choice you have to make. It is a tragedy for all concerned, R.I.P. little man.
I know these people VERY well, and this child WAS NOT left alone!!! He was in the care of his grandmother who had just gone into the house to do something mundane such as getting a blanket or medicine, by the time she could even get back outside, there was nothing she could do… Trust me, this lady LOVED her grandson, and there is NO way that there was ANY neglect on the part of the family!!! Such a TERRIBLE accident and love and support for this family should be all anyone should be offering them!!!