WENDELL — Donations are pouring in to support homeowner Robert Bowers, whose 131 Wickett Pond Road home and attached barn caught fire last Thursday.
When asked to confirm the cause of the fire on Monday, Jake Wark, state Department of Fire Services spokesperson, recounted that Bowers had just parked his lawnmower after it showed signs of overheating at around 8 a.m. that day.
“A short time later, he saw smoke and flames,” Wark wrote in an email. “The exact cause is undetermined, but [the fire is] not suspicious and likely mechanical in nature.”
The first emergency call was made at 8:14 a.m. before mutual aid was summoned from more than a dozen fire departments, providing tankers, pumpers and a ladder truck. Amid high temperatures, bringing in more staffing also helped prevent first responders from getting overheated.
Bowers’ daughter-in-law, Danielle Bowers, established a GoFundMe crowdfunding page (tinyurl.com/RobertBowers) to raise money to support him. As of Monday afternoon, more than $7,000 had been raised toward a $40,000 goal.
“The town up here has pulled through really, really well for him,” she said.
Her father-in-law, who has lived in the structure since 1973 and had just installed new windows and finished a bathroom renovation, is 84 years old and has no home insurance.
Robert Bowers said he has been overwhelmed by the amount of community support.
“Everybody’s been wonderful,” he said. “They’re great.”
He said he intends to fix his home and move back in as soon as possible. He is now staying on the property in a camper loaned to him by a friend.
One of the GoFundMe donations was made by Ed Hines, president of the Wendell Historical Society, who contributed $100.
“He’s a neighbor and a friend. We all know each other,” Hines said of Robert Bowers. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Hines said the affected house was built in the 18th century and is one of the oldest in town.
“That section of town was settled pretty early on,” he said. “It was amazing that those homes survived 200 years.”
A donation jar has also been placed at the Wendell Country Store, and owner Patti Scutari estimated $700 to $800 had been contributed by about 1:30 p.m. on Monday. She said she has known the Bowers family for years.
“He’s a lovely guy, terrific guy,” she said of Robert Bowers. “I’ve known his son since he was 10 years old. They’re great customers, great community members.”
Scutari also noted she hopes to arrange a fundraiser at Deja Brew Cafe & Pub, and host musicians and food vendors that are willing to donate a percentage of their profits.
Wendell Fire Chief Matt O’Donnell said he marvels at how much Wendell is rallying around Robert Bowers in his time of need.
“The town really is coming together to help him out, which is one of the great things about Wendell,” he said.
O’Donnell, who also serves as the New Salem chief, mentioned one of his firefighters from that town who responded to the scene on Thursday eventually drove himself to Athol Hospital, where he was treated for dehydration and released.
Orange brush fire
The Orange Fire Department is crediting a large, multi-agency response with containing an 8.3-acre brush fire started by a lightning strike in the woods on Town Farm Road on Saturday, July 4.
According to the department’s most recent Facebook update at 6 a.m. on July 5, the fire line established by firefighters was holding and the blaze had not jumped it. Some hot spots were noted at the center of the burned area.
Orange Fire Capt. Tim Matthews was at the fire scene and could not be reached for comment on Monday, but O’Donnell said his two departments were among the ones deployed to the brush fire. He commended all those involved.
“It was a great mutual aid response in Orange,” O’Donnell said. “We had members from across Franklin County and, as always, our dispatchers at Shelburne Control did an outstanding job.”
