Harper, Maryland County – Emotions ran high as 70-year-old visually impaired man, Peter S. Cooper, recounted the painful loss of his home and belongings following a devastating fire in the Middle-Sex Community, Harper City, Maryland County on April 15, 2026.
By Peter P. Toe Jr.
The fire, which destroyed his entire residence, has left Mr. Cooper homeless and struggling to survive.
With no means of livelihood due to his condition, he says the situation has pushed him to the brink.
“If anybody can come and build me just two rooms, I will be happy,” he pleaded.
Mr. Cooper disclosed that his blindness has made it impossible for him to work or support himself, a situation that has also affected his family life.
“I’m not doing anything because of my blindness. My wife left me in 2014 because of this same condition,” he said, stating that he does not know where the fire came from, he doesn’t have electricity in the house and he wasn’t cooking anything.
Now left with only his young son—who was on campus when the fire broke out—Mr. Cooper says survival has become a daily challenge.
“I have my only son who is in school. I can go beg in the streets before we eat,” he added, his voice filled with despair.
The elderly man questioned how he would cope without support, expressing deep uncertainty about the future.
“How can I manage now if no one comes through for me?” he asked.
Following the incident, Mr. Cooper is currently staying with his younger sister in New Kru Town.
However, he noted that she is also unemployed and struggling, making the situation even more difficult for both of them.
“Now I’m staying with my little sister, who is not working. When the fire broke out, people took me outside. Even my clothes—nothing I have left,” he explained.
The fire reportedly destroyed everything he owned, leaving him with no shelter, clothing, or personal belongings.
Despite the hardship, Mr. Cooper continues to appeal to humanitarian organizations, government institutions, and kind-hearted individuals to assist him in rebuilding his life.
He says even a simple two-room structure on his land would restore hope and dignity for him and his son.
Recent fire incidents across Maryland County have left multiple families homeless, signaling a troubling pattern in the county.
In some of the most recent cases, more than ten fire victims received zinc support for rebuilding their homes in Harper—a gesture provided by Representative P. Mike Drury of District 1.
However, this latest incident presents a more alarming reality. The tragedy has now affected a visually impaired man who could not even rescue himself during the fire and had to be saved by community members.
