Dover-Foxcroft police officer’s home destroyed in fire
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A Bear Hill Road home belonging to a Dover-Foxcroft police officer and family was destroyed by a fire on Sunday, Nov. 19. Nobody was home at the time of the fire but two dogs were lost in the blaze along with the family’s belongings.
Dover-Foxcroft Fire Chief Brian Gaudet told ABC affiliate WVII that upon arrival the department found the 2-story farm house belonging to Cpl. Tysen Ober and his wife Amanda fully involved. Firefighters went to third, fourth, and then fifth alarms and 11 departments from Piscataquis and Penobscot counties responded to the scene.
BEAR HILL ROAD FIRE — Eleven fire departments responded to a house fire on the Bear Hill Road in Dover-Foxcroft on Sunday, Nov. 19. The farm house, belonging to Dover-Foxcroft Police Department Cpl. Tysen Ober, was destroyed. Nobody was home at the time of the fire but two dogs were lost in the blaze along with the family’s belongings.
Gaudet said that by watching the Ring camera they were able to determine an outside GFI outlet on the outside wall failed on the porch, which is where the fire started. Gaudet said the majority of the damage was to the second floor and the attic, but the house is a total loss
The Bear Hill Road was closed from the Norton Hill Road to Merrills Mills Road as crews worked. Later in the afternoon Bear Hill Road was opened up to one lane and by the early evening the scene was cleared and the road and all travel lanes were open.
On its Facebook page the day after the fire, the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department thanked the community and the greater Piscataquis County region for the tremendous outpouring of support for the Ober family.
The post said the department has been inundated with calls from those looking to support the family. Those looking to donate clothing (size information is available on the Facebook page), bedding, dishes, or any related items can drop these off at the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department or Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department. Donations will be transferred to the American Legion where the Ober family will be assisted in going through the items. The American Legion will then work with the family to donate any unused items to other charities and families in need.
Donors are asked to be mindful that the Ober family has already received a large amount of clothing donations and has a limited ability to store items at the moment.
A fund has been established at Maine Highland Federal Credit Union as the “Ober Family Benefit.” Donations can be dropped off at any branch. A GoFundMe account has also been established under “The Ober Family”. All proceeds will be transferred to the Maine Highland FCU account once the term has ended.
The police department has been notified that Piscataquis County Peer Support will be organizing a toy drive for the Ober family and more information will be available. The Foxcroft Academy Key Club has announced that 100 percent of the funds raised during the upcoming annual “Festival of Stockings” Dec. 9-10 will be donated to the family.
The post concludes, “Again, we thank everyone for the tremendous support that has been pouring in for the Ober family. This community has shown time and time again that in times of need differences get set aside and we come together for the greater good. For that, we are truly grateful.”
A Nov. 19 post thanked the fire department and other departments that responded.