AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Army National Guard and community members are coming to the aid of a military family who lost their home and four pets in a fire Tuesday morning, Portland television station WGME, CBS 13, reported.
Steve Eastman is a national guardsman who was in Virginia on military business when his Augusta house was engulfed in flames just before 7 a.m. Tuesday. His wife and two children had left the home for the day, but two dogs were killed and two cats were lost in the blaze.
Augusta Fire Chief Scott Dunbar told the Bangor Daily News the fire was likely caused by electrical problems at the home.
“It’s really sad. They’re just a wonderful family,” neighbor Micheal Parker told CBS 13. “She had just left an hour before things broke out.”
Maj. Michael Steinbuchel of the Maine Army National Guard said the service will come to the family’s aid.
“It’s sad when these unfortunate tragedies happen,” Steinbuchel told CBS 13. “We have something called the Family Support Group and it’s specifically designed to step in and help the family when they go through this.”
The public can get involved by dropping off donations of clothes or other household items for the family at the Buker Community Center in Augusta or the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Bangor.
“In the end, what it’s important to realize is it’s just stuff, and stuff can be replaced. Fortunately, he and his family are safe,” Steinbuchel told CBS 13.
The Red Cross is also assisting the family, Dunbar said Tuesday.
