A family in Clarksburg is living in a hotel since a Sept. 1 fire destroyed their home on Trading Post Drive.
Lucien Lee, who graduated Seneca Valley High School earlier this year, said the fire started outside on a balcony at his home. No one in the family of five was hurt, he said.
Some family members smelled smoke but thought it was from a barbecue at one of the other townhouses, he said. “Fifteen minutes later, my mom yelled, ‘It’s a fire.'”
He ran to get the fire extinguisher but soon fled, noting he was the last person to leave the home.
“In my eyes, it was just totaled. The roof collapsed. The basement is full of water,” said Lee, who is preparing to join the Army. According to Lee, the family lost all their possessions that were inside their home.
Nine residents were displaced, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer. The Red Cross assisted those on the scene, he noted.
Lee set up a Gofundme site. “Today, September 1st, 2023, our house was burned down. My parents are first generation immigrants and we’ve lived in Maryland our whole lives. And now we have nothing other than our clothes on our back and our car. Today we lost everything I hope you guys could help us get back on our feet. God bless everyone.”
As of Tuesday, almost 600 people had donated a total of $35,033.
A cause has not been determined.
Update – Trading Post Lane, Clarksburg, 9 total displaced, Red Cross on scene & assisted some while others stayed with family members, no civilian injuries, significant damage. pic.twitter.com/9jCi1KzvG7
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) September 2, 2023
NOW: @mcfrs units on scene of a townhouse fire 23900 block Trading Post Drive. @mcfrsPIO pic.twitter.com/P46BlYWZOp
— Bill Rehkopf (@BillRehkopf) September 1, 2023
A House Fire in the Clarksburg community has left a family with nothing. Please help. #BeGoodDoGood https://t.co/rhDyGaSsRT
— Clarksburg HS 🐺 (@Cburg_Coyotes) September 2, 2023
