The Washington Advent Christian Camp has witnessed a lot of happy moments and friendships formed. Last Monday, however, the camp located in the town of Washington in the northeasternmost U.S. state of Maine was reduced to rubble after a fire hit the area and destroyed six buildings.
It took crews from eight fire departments to put out the blaze, which destroyed the camp's dining hall, kitchen, three small cabins and even the children's chapel.
Luckily, the camp was empty when the fire hit the campground, so no one was killed or injured, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office, as reported by Portland Press Herald.
A member of the association who was at camp after the fire, 71-year-old Sandra Colburn of Rockport, recalled going to the place all her life. Because of this, she is determined to raise funds and rebuild the damaged buildings.
Darrell Young, president of the Washington Advent Christian Camp Meeting Association, admitted that his group may not have enough funds to rebuild the area again. He particularly said that the dining hall might be difficult to rehabilitate since it contained high-grade equipment.
"They're underinsured, I'm sure," he said of the properties. "We're looking at our policy. They're not going to cover the replacement, for sure. We haven't thought about repairs. We have to speak with the insurance company."
The camp will have to be shut for at least one more week.
The only good news is that based on the fire department's assessment, utilities inside the facility are still connected.
Faced with a challenging task ahead, Colburn expressed optimism that God will help them rise from the rubble.
"We will be here next year with bells on," Colburn told Portland Press Herald. "The board will figure out what's going to happen. We're probably going to have to raise some money, but God will supply. He always takes care of our needs."
According to the Fire Department, the blaze originated from a two-storey dormitory before spreading to other nearby structures. The fire officers are still trying to determine the cause of the fire "as the building of origin was completely destroyed."
