Friends are coming to the aid of a family who lost their home near May on Friday afternoon and ask the public to help the couple put their life back together.
According to Kelly Mobley, a friend of James and Rachel Wells, the couple’s home on County Road 478 near May was destroyed in a fire Friday around noon. Mobley explained that the fire started when a heat lamp they were using to warm a pen of baby chicks ignited some of the wood shavings. The fire in the pen was extinguished but then reignited a short time later, quickly catching the side of the house on fire which was near the pen.
Mobley stated that the couple had gotten news just yesterday that they were expecting their first child, that the fire destroyed all of their belongings and that their two pet cats perished in the fire. Both James and Rachel escaped with literally “only the clothes they were wearing.”
James Wells is employed by Brown County, in Precinct 3 and Rachel works at JC Penny. Mobley stated that Rachel is from China and that James is from California so the couple has no nearby relatives; however friends are rallying with support. Even those who do not know the Wells personally are working to help them to start over said Mobley. She explained that donations of household goods, furniture or clothing can be brought to the Matthew 10:42 store at 1800 Belle Plain and that donors should mention James and Rachel Wells as they take in other donations regularly. Monetary donations will be accepted through an account at Citizens National Bank which is being set up for the Wells by the May First Baptist Church. This account should be available for donations on Wednesday, February 29th.
A Facebook group has also been created to generate support for the Wells.
Members of the May Volunteer Fire Department at the fire Friday afternoon.
