By Christian Appleton
Pleebo, Maryland County – A family in Pleebo has been left with nothing after a devastating fire destroyed the home and business compound of local father and businessman, Gyude Morgan. The inferno, which occurred on August 21, has erased years of hard work and investment, leaving the family of nine without a home or source of income.
Morgan was working on his farm when he received the frantic call about the fire at his property in Zone Four. By the time he arrived, the eight-room structure, including two storage units filled with merchandise, was completely consumed by the flames.
“I have lost everything I worked for,” Morgan said, visibly distressed as he stood amid the smoldering remains. “My children depend on me for their education and survival. I am appealing to humanitarian groups and good-spirited people to come to our rescue.”
The fire, which reportedly started in a nearby mud house, spread quickly through the densely packed community. With no firefighting equipment available, residents’ attempts to extinguish the blaze with buckets of water and sand were futile. Neighbors described watching the fire spread helplessly.
The destroyed compound housed four bedrooms, a rental apartment, and two large storage units containing thousands of dollars’ worth of goods. The total loss is estimated at over $83,000, a catastrophic blow for a man who built his business from the ground up.
The fire has also put the future of Morgan’s nine children in jeopardy. Six are currently enrolled in school, and three are recent high school graduates. With their family’s income gone, their education and future are now uncertain.
The tragedy has prompted renewed calls for better emergency services in Pleebo and other rural areas of Maryland County. Residents have long complained about the lack of a fire department, fire trucks, or professional firefighting units, arguing that the disaster could have been prevented with proper resources.
While local community members have rallied to provide initial support, the scale of Morgan’s loss is too great for them to handle alone. “I am not a lazy man. I have always worked hard for my children,” Morgan said. “But this situation is too much for me to handle alone. If there is anyone out there who can help—with materials, money, anything—we would be grateful.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for investment in fire safety and emergency preparedness in under-resourced communities. For now, Gyude Morgan and his family face a long and difficult road to recovery, relying on community support and their hope for external assistance to rebuild their lives from the ashes.
