Bowling Fundraiser for Survivor of Orrington Fire

Friends and family of Orrington fire survivor, Christine Johnson, are hosting a fitting fundraiser in honor of her late husband. Ben Johnson III was well-known as an avid bowler, and so bowlers will gather in Bangor to pay tribute and raise money.

The Ben Johnson III Family Fundraiser will be held from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9 at Family Fun Lanes Bowling Center in Bangor. It will cost $10 to bowl three games, and shoes will be available for anyone who needs them. All the proceeds will go into the Christine Johnson trust fund.

Christine Johnson was the sole survivor of Maine's deadliest fire in 20 years. Her husband, Benjamin Johnson III, and children; 9-year-old Ben, 4-year-old Ryan, and 8-year-old daughter Leslie were killed when their Orrington home burned last Saturday morning. Christine Johnson has been recovering from smoke inhalation at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Ben Johnson's father, Benjamin Johnson II, has said his son and daughter-in-law had purchased a smoke detector just hours before the fatal fire. He said Christine told him it was that detector that woke up his son. He said Ben got Christine to safety on a breezeway roof, took a deep breath, and went back in after the children. Sadly, he never made it. The state fire marshal's office says the fire started with cardboard stored too close to a wood stove.

Anyone wishing to make contributions in the Johnson family's memory may do so through the Johnson Family Fund, care of Seaboard Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box G, Bucksport, 04416.