Community seeks housing options for grandmother burned in Brandywine Street fire

After residents rallied to find an apartment for a family that lost a 1-year-old child in a house fire Sept. 13, community members are still looking for housing options for a grandmother who was burned in the same incident.

In less than a week, community members were able to secure $3,023.50 in donations for a three-bedroom unit for Brian Navarre and his three children after the Brandywine Street fire. The youngest, baby Noah, died during the incident.

Almost a few hours after organizers announced Sept. 18 the need for support on Facebook, volunteer groups donated enough funds for a deposit. Bold Property Management representative Jessica Henry said the very next morning there were enough monetary donations for the first month's rent.

"We've had a few people come in with $50 and $100 donations, and we've been applying it to (Navarre's) portal, so he'll have that for the first month after, and the next month after," she said.

Now that the immediate family has secured a permanent home as of Sept. 19, some have turned to securing a permanent residence for Barbara Miller. Miller, 59, was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Burn Center with second-degree burns because of the fire.

Miller has been released from the hospital and is currently staying with family members. But because of Miller's financial issues, including not having any personal or disability income before the fire, have caused issues with those attempting to get her a permanent address.

"I have personally reached out to a few private landlords that I know to see if anybody had any one-room apartments or anything small to get her into," Henry said. "I haven't had much luck, so we are kind of taking it day by day to see what we can get for her."

Organizers are working with Miller to reach out to agencies like the Lebanon County Community Action Partnership and the American Red Cross for assistance.

Item donations

Community members also collect item donations for Miller as the search for a permanent residence continues. As of Monday, residents were still collecting items like cooking utensils, dressers and shoes, though Henry said that list is constantly changing given how much residents have been willing to donate.

"We're getting all these donations, and she doesn't really have anywhere to go with them," she said. "The place where she's staying is pretty small. So we're running into a lot of roadblocks."

Some organizers are looking for a storage unit or garages for some of the items. Residents have been offering furniture sets to Miller, which organizers have no place to store.

"I'm turning people down because I can't take it," Henry said. "I have nowhere to go with it. It's sad 'cause people want to help, and some of them are going to hold it... but a lot of people I'm turning down because 'I'm sorry, I would love to get it for her, it's just where do I go.'"

There are still collections being done for Navarre and the children, Henry added.

Community members are still hosting fundraiser for the family at the Style and Grace Salon in Cleona from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. FroggyValley 100.1 and 99.7 Wilber Radio are also hosting a donation event for the family Thursday, Sept. 26. from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the radio station parking lot located at 440 Rebecca St., Lebanon.

The fire

On Sept. 13, the Lebanon Fire Department was dispatched to the 1300 block of Brandywine Street for a multiple-dwelling fire. As they began arriving on the scene, additional information was provided that a baby was trapped on the second floor.

Five people were occupying the home at the time of the fire, according to Mayor Sherry Capello.

A 1-year-old boy, later identified as Noah, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two girls, ages 5 and 2, and a 4-year-old boy, were taken to other hospitals. Organizers said that the three children are on the mend.

The fire originated in the second-floor bedroom, and State Police Fire Marshals are assisting Lebanon officials with their investigation. The cause is still being determined and the investigation is ongoing.

Lebanon Fire Chief Aaron "AJ" Sweitzer told the Lebanon Daily News Friday afternoon that the building has been condemned.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth .

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Community seeks housing options for grandmother burned in Brandywine Street fire