Fire Ravages Wellington Residence and Vehicles, Family Escapes Unharmed

Date: May 29, 2023

A late-evening fire on Sunday caused extensive damage to a Wellington home and two nearby vehicles, leaving a local family displaced but safe.

The blaze broke out around 8:30 p.m. at a residence on Wellington Main Street, prompting a swift response from Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue. When firefighters arrived, the back portion of the building was already engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to two vehicles parked close to the structure.

The home belongs to Adnan Mustafa and Suhaila El Husein, Syrian refugees who settled in Prince Edward County in 2016. In addition to being their residence, the property housed a commercial kitchen used for producing the well-known Papa Ghanoush and Momma Hummus food products. Friends of the family shared online that the couple managed to escape without injury and are currently staying with relatives.

Fire Chief Chad Brown praised the coordinated effort of crews, noting that firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the affected property. Due to the building’s proximity to the Wellington fire station, crews were able to establish operations quickly. Firefighters from three stations worked for several hours before fully extinguishing the flames.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Damage from the fire is estimated at approximately $500,000. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.

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