Friend helping victims of fire that destroyed home

May 28--BERWICK, Maine -- Days after a devastating four-alarm fire tore through a home in Berwick, a friend of the family hopes to help them replace some of what they lost.

Jessie Taylor said John Holder was renting the home and he and 11-year-old son lost all their belongings in Saturday's blaze.

"Although they are lucky to escape safely, they lost everything they owned, including two beloved family cats in the fire," Taylor said. "There is probably nothing salvageable."

According to Taylor, Holder is a generous person who is always eager to go out of his way to help anyone who needs assistance.

On the day of the fire, Holder had loaned out one of his vehicles to a co-worker.

"(The co-worker) was out with the car at the time of the fire, so had it been in the driveway, it would have been destroyed," Taylor said. "So at least he has a car to drive."

Holder was asleep on the couch when the fire broke out when a couple passing by saw the smoke and stopped. "It was a lucky coincidence," Taylor said. "She told me she and her husband didn't normally take that route, but was glad they did on Saturday."

According to Taylor, Holder did not have renter's insurance. She set up a GoFundMe page and it has raised more than $1,300 dollars. (http://www.gofundme.com/vcxty8)

In addition to the online contributions, Taylor said people could bring items to the Berwick General Store. Holder had his gallbladder removed Tuesday and is still hospitalized.

Taylor said when Holder moved into the home on Saw Mill Hill and was excited to have a place where he and his family could make happy memories.

"He does have a really good sense of humor about all of this," Taylor said. "He has a camper and talked about camping with his son at a local campground for the summer."

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