Community Rallies Around Huntingtown Family After House Fire

HUNTINGTOWN, Md. — Local fire departments and volunteers are coming to the aid of a local family that was displaced from their home and lost their dog on the morning of June 9 due to a fire.

The home faced significant damage primarily on the upper level and roof area. The community immediately sprang into action to help the Wells family, who are active in the community in youth programs and local volunteer fire services. “Monk” Wells currently serves as assistant chief with the Fort Detrick Fire Department and previously served as fire chief of the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department.

Fire departments and organizations in Maryland led the effort to help the Wells family as soon as word got out about the fire. Within hours, organizers had launched a donation page and an official Facebook page and began spreading the word to local firehouses to collect donations.

As of the morning of Thursday, June 11, the donation page had received more than $15,000 in donations — 78% of the way to its $20,000 goal. The Facebook page also showed bags of donated clothes and essentials picked up from local firehouses in Calvert County.

Family friend Anthony King said when he heard about the fire, his first move was to go check on the family; he was there while units were still on the scene, and once he saw the damage, he got to work right away.

“This is the brotherhood,” King said. “When anything happens to one of our own, we show out in force and take care of each other. We have an amazing community in Southern Maryland, and they show that time and time again.”

Due to the “abundance of support,” King said they’re no longer collecting essentials like clothes. Anyone who wants to support the family can make a donation through the Anne Arundel County Fire Emerald Society. King and others are also in the early stages of planning community events to benefit the family.

Follow the Facebook page for the latest updates on how to help the Wells family.

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