By Gareyson Y. Neufville
Harper, Maryland County
Families affected by a devastating fire outbreak in Harper City are urgently appealing to humanitarian organizations, lawmakers, and the Government of Liberia for assistance after losing their only source of income and means of survival.
The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon, January 25, 2026, along Maryland Avenue near the Airfield Junction in Harper City, destroying at least three business shops.
Preliminary information suggests the blaze may have been triggered by an electrical fault from nearby power poles.
According to reports, shop owners had closed their businesses for the weekend and traveled home, leaving all electrical appliances switched off and circuit breakers down, with plans to reopen on Monday.
Instead, they returned to scenes of total devastation, as the fire completely razed the shops and reduced all goods to ashes.
Victims say that since the incident, no official report or statement has been issued by LIBENERGY, the private electricity provider in the region.
The Liberia National Fire Service in Maryland County has also not released any official findings regarding the cause of the fire.
However, LIBENERGY technicians were seen at the scene the following day repairing damaged power lines and burnt pole wires.
On Monday, as victims cleared debris from the site, reporters visited the area and spoke with affected families.
Eric Clarke, the eldest son of Madam Helena Clarke—one of the victims whose only shop was completely destroyed along with all market goods—expressed gratitude to community members who helped prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
“If not for the community people and passersby who used water, sand, and other means, the fire would have extended to nearby houses,” Clarke said.
He explained that his mother supports seven children, including three students at William V.S. Tubman University and two in high school.
According to him, the family’s entire livelihood, including school fees and daily survival, depended solely on income from the shop.
“Since the incident, none of us has registered for this semester. Even food is now difficult to get, before we can even talk about school fees,” he added.
Clarke noted that at the time of the fire, the shop’s breaker was switched off and all appliances were unplugged, leaving the family confused about the cause of the blaze.
However, witnesses reported hearing popping sounds from a nearby power pole shortly before the fire spread to the shop.
Now left without any source of income, the family faces serious risks, including hunger, extreme poverty, school dropout, child vulnerability, psychological trauma, and long-term economic instability.
The victims are appealing to humanitarian organizations, government institutions, and well-meaning Liberians for urgent assistance.
Their most immediate needs include cement, sand, zinc, and other construction materials to help rebuild the shop and restore their only means of survival.
Despite uncertainty surrounding the children’s education and the family’s worsening condition, Clarke said rebuilding the shop would help restore hope, stability, and dignity following the tragic incident.
