Update, Monday, Nov. 7:
INDUSTRY – Ed Boyd believes the fire and smoke he woke up to Sunday night started at the woodstove in the living room.
At about 8:40 p.m. fire fighters from six towns responded to the blaze that gutted the single-story home at 503 Rand Road. Ed and Carolyn Boyd and their children Leigha, 16 and Sean, 15 lived at the mobile home that Ed had expanded with additions over 18 years. Two dogs perished in the blaze.
This morning, Ed Boyd with his children sifted through the charred remains of their three-bedroom home.
He pointed up with a bandaged finger to the window he had to punch out to escape the fire and smoke. Boyd was the only one home and had fallen asleep early because of an early shift Monday morning. A smoke alarm sounded along with the family’s two dogs, which woke him up.
“There was a little smoke and I thought it was the stove,” he said. But soon, too much smoke filled the bedroom to be a little back draft from the stove pipe. “The smoke was rolling across the ceiling and everything was all a glow.”
He started punching at the window above the bed for an escape. One dog was in the corner of the bedroom next to him and once the window’s glass was removed he tried to reach down and get the dog out. But the frightened dog had gotten quiet and, groping in the dark, he couldn’t find him. As the smoke grew thicker and the fire’s glow brighter, Boyd said he had no choice but to lift himself out though the glassless window frame. In the dark confusion, his hands found four big nails pounded into the exterior side of the house under the window.
“I used the nails and sort of slid down to the ground,” he said. He found out later he had cut the tip of his finger off getting out. “I wasn’t thinking,” he added. He ran around the side of the house to the big bow window and broke it out to try and save the dogs. Explosions, in staccato-like bangs, possibly from ammunition or other flammable items, began erupting as Boyd tried to get the dogs to come out.
Not being able to see or hear the dogs and the fire now running throughout the house, he ran around to the other side of the home, jumped into his truck and drove next door to Percy Frazier’s house to call for help.
The Boyd’s neighbor across the street, Fred Swan, said he just had a feeling “something just wasn’t right” when he got up to look out the window.
“I saw fire shooting out from the house, everything was on fire and then I heard a boom,” Swan said. He quickly got dressed and ran over to see if he could help, but Boyd had already gone next door. Swan went home and grabbed four sweaters because he thought the family may need them on this chilly, clear night.
Carolyn and Leigha Boyd had been out shopping for the day. Sean and friends had been at the movie theater in Farmington celebrating his 15th birthday when they got the call their house was on fire.
“My grandmother called and said, ‘You’ve got to get home, your house is on fire. It’s engulfed,'” Leigha Boyd remembers. This morning she pointed to a blackened metal box and disconnected pipe scrap, “The old stove was in the living room,” she said and added, “everything is gone.”
Gratefully, Ed Boyd said the home was insured.
Carolyn’s sister, Cathy Corey wants to hold a benefit supper for the family. The Daily Bulldog will update this story and other pages with details, as soon as we get them, along with other ways to help the family with donations as many readers have asked how to help the Boyds.
4 p.m. Monday Update: Cathy Corey sent this note in: “Thank you for all your support and anything you could donate would be greatly appreciated. My sister and her family are very much appreciative of all of your thoughts and prayers. They all are safe and that’s all that matters. Clothes are size 10-12 pants/shirts L/XL women’s, 14-16 pants women’s shirts 1x/2x women, 2xl/3xl men shirts and mens pants 38/30 and 40/30. shoes are women’s 5-6 wide, 8 women’s, 11 wide and 10 1/2 wide shoes for men. You may contact me for any questions or donations. My number is 491-6814 or you can contact my sister (Carolyn Boyd) at my parents where they are staying for now. 778-4639.
10:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6: INDUSTRY – Home to a family of four was destroyed by fire that broke out and gutted the one-story structure at 503 Rand Road Sunday night.
Ed Boyd was asleep at 8:30 p.m. Sunday because he was scheduled to work the early shift on Monday. He woke up to smoke filling the house. Fire blocked his path to a door so he climbed out a back window and ran to a nearby neighbor’s house to call for help. The call was received by 8:40 p.m.
His wife, Carolyn and their two teen-aged children, Sean and Leigha, were away from home at the time of the fire, a relative at the scene said. The family’s two dogs and a cat are missing.
Fire fighters from Industry, Chesterville, Anson, Farmington, Madison, and New Sharon responded to the blaze with pumper tankers and personnel. A NorthStar Emergency Medical Services ambulance crew assisted at the scene.
If anyone can get information on this family for clothing sizes/shoes or where they might be excepting donations please post on here! Would love to help out in anyway possible and I’m sure others would as well. I know if I was in this situation I would want some help. Maybe a drop off at the Industry town hall? Let’s help this family!!!
Sorry about the loss, Prayer’s and thought’s go out to Leigha,Sean,Eddie & Carolyn, I love you guys & I’m here if you need anything.
Love, Holbrook Family.
Thinking of the Boyd’s this morning.
Ed, Carolyn, Shawn, and Leah…..We are terribly sorry about the loss of your home. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers…..
Paul and Darby
I am glad to hear Ed and his family are okay.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Boyd family! I love you guys and im glad everyones all right! Im here if you guys need anything! <3
So sorry for your loss, I know exactly what you are going through as we lost our home and everything in it to a house fire years ago. It’s a day I will always remember and one that makes me sad. We lost our dog in the fire also and that really broke our hearts as items can be replaced by a life cannot. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all at this time. Take Care.
We knew Leah and Sean well from our trips to Maine to do Vacation Bible School. Please post here if there is a fund starated or anything we can do to help.
That is my aunt and uncles house and I was there not even 5 hours before the fire!
My thoughts and prayers go out to your family. A fire is such a sad sad thing. Thank God everyone is ok. Very sad to hear about the pets, it is like losing a family member. Take care and keep your chins up.
We are really sorry to hear about your loss,we have some wood on hand we could donate if it would help.Both Tara and I know the feeling it sucks,may better days come to you soon.
If anyone has any info, I have a house of good furniture I can donate to the family. thanks ..Tom.. 781-985-5488, (cell#)
I agree, “helping hands”, let’s check and see if the Industry Town Office could be the drop off place. I’d like to help also.
Sorry to hear about the house, glad your dad got out safe, hope you find the dogs and cat.. leigha i love you with all my heart and you are an amazing person. love ya sis. <3
Glad to hear that everyone is okay. Leigha and Sean are such great kids. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.
This is Carolyn’s sister Cindy. I want to Thank everyone for their prayers and concerns . If any one who would like to help. The family is asking for gift cards for Wal Mart, Hannaford, etc. They have lost everything. We will be planning a Benefit supper soon for the Family. If you would like to reach them you can call 778-4639 or can call me (cindy )@ 778 -2394 for more information. Please leave a message and I will get back to you asap. If any one that would like to make some meals or goodies this would also be appreciated these can be dropped off at our moms home where they are staying for the time being. Thanks Cindy
Thank goodness you four are OK, Boyds. Prayers and concern from our little fam to yours…
Thank you for all your support and anything you could donate would be greatly appreciated. My sister and her family are very much appreciated of all of your thoughts and prayers. They all are safe and that’s all that matters. Clothes are size 10-12 pants/shirts L/XL women’s, 14-16 pants women’s shirts 1x/2x women, 2xl/3xl men shirts and mens pants 38/30 and 40/30. shoes are women’s 5-6 wide, 8 women’s, 11 wide and 10 1/2 wide shoes for men. You may contact me for any questions or donations.
Leigha has always been one of those kids, hand waving high, to volunteer to help others. She surely got that from a family who believes in generosity. Now that their family is in need, it should be an honor to help them as well. Don’t lose hope, Boyds; we are all behind you and will be donating what we can!
Sorry
I dont like internet connections lol My number is 491-6814 or you can contact my sister at my parents where they are staying for now. 778-4639 Thanks so much!
Has anyone considered setting up a bank account for monetary donations that would go directly to the family? I can look into it if no one else has.
We, too are gathering up stuff to give them. I have clothes for Leigha, and Carolyn, and will be dropping them off soon. We want to help in any way we can! Such a sad thing to happen to such a wonderful family.
I’m glad no one was hurt that’s all that matters, i hope everyone is alright and things work out for your family. At least in times like this you have friends and family to help you out.
Thinking of you all. Our family is getting together some stuff. Prayers are with you! Lots of Love!
So sorry for this tragedy : ( Has a spot been picked where we can drop things off for them? Or is it still best to call?
So glad all are ok.
Carolyn and Ed, So Glad everyone is ok.! Sorry for the loss of your home. If you need any help with anything let me know. I would like to help with the benefit if i can in any way. my # 860-2765. Leigh and Sean we think alot of you two. Take one day at a time. Love The whitney’s
Thank God you got out ok. We are so sorry to hear about you losing the house and animals. So sad! But at least the family is safe. Will try to get some stuff together.
Thinking of you guys as you already know…we will be there to help you every step of the way! Lots of love to you all!
Hey. Im so so sorry to hear what happened. you guys are in my prayers and love you guys so much and wish the best for you. If you need anything give us a call and well be there for you guys. love you all always Taylor and Amy
My heart goes out to you Carolyn and Ed and Sean and Leigha your in my prayers
Thank u everyone! Everyone ur all the best!
Leigha, Sean, My aunt, and Uncle r doing ok but they r still in shock from the fire!
So is my mom, dad, grammy, and me as well!
I am the daughter of this tragedy, I am speaking for my family, We appreciate this sooooo very much, from our hearts, & there are no words to say how much all of you mean to us. I am so used to giving & not receiving & it’s hard for us to accept the help. We are not turning anybody away or down for wanting to help, we greatly appreciate it, words cain’t describe. We are holding our heads up high & this is just another mountain to climb & conquer. Somedays it feels like a bad dream & I can not wake up, but other days I realize that we have a mountain that is just gonna take 1step at a time to climb over. All donations can be dropped off at our grandparents home where we are living for the time being, or, at the Industry Town Hall. Thank You Again So Very Much.
~<3Love:
Leigha M. Boyd