OWLS HEAD — Elyjah Crockett, a firefighter for Newport and Pittsfield fire departments, stood next to the dunk tank at Owls Head Transportation Museum, Sunday, June 28, 2026, during the museum’s inaugural First Responder Weekend. His shorts, T-shirt, firefighter jacket and helmet dripped with the FD hose water that filled the tank. There’s something about a firefighter uniform, he said, that makes people want to dunk someone. People are less interest in a random person in jeans and a T-shirt, according to him.

"It's been really cool seeing everybody come out today," he said.

Crockett was helping to fund raise for the Firefighter Foundation, a newly developed relief fund that originated as a GoFundMe for victims of the May 15, 2026 Searsmont fire, but is now pursuing a permanent resource. In the process of that initial GoFundMe for Searsmont, organizers became aware of the many other responders in the community who suffer from gaps in wages when they are injured or sick.

First Responder Brian Clement, who lives in Appleton, understands the need. Sheila Lowe, of Union, works with employee benefits, and therefore health insurance. She understands the need.

“So, we just kind of came together and found what we could do to help,” said Lowe.

A Board has been established; bylaws are being developed for The Firefighter Foundation, which is currently in the process of setting up as a nonprofit.

“There’s a lot to setting up a nonprofit, and making sure you get all the accurate steps,” said Lowe. “In the meantime, we’re making sure that the Searsmont victims have received funds that we’ve raised for them. And now we are raising funds for other first responders.”

Many in the community are helping those needs by helping the organization. On display a few dozen feet away from the dunk tank was a 1924 Dodge Hammer, recently donated by a Searsmont resident to the OHTM New England Auto Auction coming up in August. One hundred percent of the auction price for that car is being donated to the Firefighter Foundation. An ice cream vendor at the Responder Weekend planned to donate his weekend profits to the Foundation. A 50/50 raffle generated another $113 for the fund. The museum is looking for other people interested in donating a car to the auction, with proceeds also going to the relief fund.

“Anything that we can do,” said John Bottero, OHTM executive director. “Most of the local first responders are volunteers. We know how hard it is for departments to get people to join up. So as a recruitment drive, as a show-and-tell, as whatever we can do to help them, both historical and current.”

To start out, the fund will be dedicated to Maine first responders, according to Lowe.

“And then we’ll see how it goes from there,” she said. “Eventually maybe New England. There’s definitely a need out there.”

The Foundation currently has a Facebook page, and is in the process of creating a website through Adventure Advertising. Sandcastle Entertainment donated the dunk tank for the weekend.