Community, Red Cross reach out to Westport Island family after fire

Three pets perish
Tue, 03/05/2019 - 8:00pm

Amid loss from a Feb. 27 fire, a Westport Island family is finding an outpouring of community support, Westport Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Jason Abbott said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the State Fire Marshal's Office continued to investigate the cause of the fire at 46 Greenleaf Road. "It's leaning toward electrical," Abbott said in a phone interview.

He said no one was at Chris and Bonnie Wormwood's single-story house when a neighbor spotted smoke. Firefighters responded quickly and knocked the fire down quickly, but the blaze had already burned through the kitchen floor, he said. Between the fire and smoke damage, the home is pretty much a total loss, he said.

Two cats and a dog died in the fire; a third cat, found outside, was fine, Abbott said.

The home was insured and the insurance company is working with the family, he said.

He spoke with the Wormwoods Monday night. They are overwhelmed with people's offers of help, even offers of a place to stay, he said. Also Monday, Abbott contacted the American Red Cross to help the family transition.

The Red Cross is working to ensure they have food, a safe place to sleep and other essentials, Ann Kim stated in a press release Monday.

"Over the next several days, the Red Cross will be in contact with them to provide financial assistance and community referrals as they begin their road to recovery," Kim said.

Wiscasset, Edgecomb, Alna, Woolwich, Boothbay and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office helped WVFD.