Local family needs community help after house is destroyed by fire in Delmar

DELMAR, Del. – There was a recent house fire in Delmar, and a local family is asking for the community’s help. It occurred at 17713 Line Church Road, and one local family is trying to put all the pieces back together.

Maria Bowden’s father, stepmother Dale, and Terry Bowden, along with stepbrother Andy and nephews Connor and Elijah, were present when the fire took place. Maria said the fire happened overnight.

“They kept a cat house for feral cats and had put a heat lamp in it. What we gathered is one of the cats knocked the heat lamp off, and it caught the house on fire.”

The family’s nightmare was just beginning, as the fire spread up the roof and into the attic. Elijah Bowden is only 18-years-old, and according to Maria, her nephew quickly took control of the situation.

“When they realized the fire was beyond control, he took charge, woke everybody up, and got my dad, who is wheelchair bound, out of the house, making sure everybody was safe.”

Fortunately, they escaped the fire, but the damage to the home is extensive, leaving it uninhabitable. Maria was unable to get to the scene immediately, but was thankful to see the Delmar, Pittsville, and Gumboro Fire Departments working to secure the area. “The fire department response was amazing, by the time I was here, I counted at least 8 or 9 firetrucks.”

The family’s next steps are completely gutting the house, rebuilding the frame, and asking the community to help if they can.

“We’re just trying to get what we can, and make everyone’s lives easier.”

You can support the family on this webpage.