LEVANTE, Maine (WABI) – Officials still did not identify those killed in a Levantine house fire Monday morning.
Three were also hospitalized.
While the investigation into the cause of the fire on the main road continues, the community has rallied to help.
“Whenever something like this hits a town, it feels like coming home. We’ve all been through it before, but I don’t know if we’ve all been through it. So, we just felt compelled to do something,” Jason Seymour said.
Jason and Tracie Seymour of Levant have Seymour embroidery.
When they learned of a deadly fire in their community, they set out to design a shirt they could sell to raise money for neighbors in need.
“I wanted something that emphasized the Levant as a community, and even though we don’t know each other, there’s really no one here alone. We feel that if something happens to someone in the community, it’s the community’s job to be united in Surround them and build them,” Tracy said.
According to Fire Chief Eric Strout, it was the first time in 20 years that someone had died in a fire in the Levant.
This shocked the community, including first responders at the scene.
“None of us want to wake up at 3:15am and try to rescue someone from a house fire, and then even with a brave effort, we didn’t succeed. So this has an impact on the crew and the department,” Strout said.
He said interdependence was an important part of the recovery process.
“Talk to each other. We’re dealing with different situations all the time. We train ourselves to be, you know, the reality of every fire is dangerous. We tell everybody, reach out. If you’re stuck, talk to someone …you know, this is going to be with us for a couple of weeks and we have to work together as a family to get through this,” Strout said.
The Seymour family wants to challenge other businesses in the Levant to figure out a way to raise money for victims.
When it comes to giving, they say, every bit counts.
“Let’s get together and let’s make a difference. You know, so every day you can really make a difference in other people’s lives. And, you know, this is one of those times when you can do it,” Jason said.
“One person can’t do everything, but everyone can do something, and it adds up to a lot,” Tracy said.
If you are interested in purchasing a T-shirt, please click here.
All profits will be donated to victims, with Seymours up to $500.
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