Crews respond to a fire at a home on Main Street in Stevens Point. Image courtesy: GoFundMe
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — A GoFundMe account has been established for members of UWSP’s Phi Sigma Phi fraternity who lost essential belongings in last week’s fire at a rental property.
“The situation involving Eric Blum’s arrest weighs heavily on our organization. Phi Sigma Phi National Fraternity is deeply troubled by the events occurring in Stevens Point,” said National President Josh Finch in a press release. “Our organization prioritizes the safety and well-being of our members and the communities in which we reside. We are thankful for the first responders for the swiftness in which they arrived, and law enforcement for acting diligently on this matter.”
Blum was recently expelled from the organization but had been living in the home at 1616 Main Street, according to Finch. The home is owned and managed by a local company and not by Phi Sigma Phi, but fraternity members were on the lease.
Officers say Blum set multiple fires in the home late Friday night and left the scene. He’s facing one count of arson in addition to misdemeanor charges for battery and disorderly conduct that were filed in March. It’s unclear if previous charges are related to the conduct that had him kicked out of Phi Sigma Phi.
Finch adds that many of the members lost all of their belongings and cannot return to their home. The fraternity is working to connect those members to local and campus resources to help them “rebuild and progress as they face the remainder of the semester.”
Those who would like to donate can click here.
Court action against Blum for the arson charges is pending. He is scheduled to return to court on May 13th for the misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct charges.
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