Lake County fire tragedy touches DeBary

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jul 1, 2009 - 6:18:17pm

On June 24, a fire wrought tragedy in Lake County, across the St. Johns River. A mother, 24-year-old Brandy Kerr, and her 18-month old twin babies, Jonathan and Austin, died from smoke inhalation and burns after the mobile home where they were staying in Pine Lakes burst into flame.

The 911 call came into Lake County Dispatch at 3:19 p.m. Austin was dead when law-enforcement, firefighter and emergency-medical personnel arrived. His brother died later that day at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, and their mother died the next day, according to the report from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The State Fire Marshal took charge of the scene. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.

Though the fire was in Lake County, there is a DeBary connection. The children's father, Neale Kerr, and two older children, Kristy, 5, and Shelley, 4, are living with Kerr's family in DeBary.

Dad and the two older girls were not at the trailer when it caught on fire.

Kristy and Shelley had been attending Christian Care for Lil' Angels in DeBary, center director Sheryl Weldon reported. They are expected to continue attending there.

The twins were to have started at Lil' Angels June 29, a staff member said.

Weldon and the staff are asking for donations to help the family with funeral and other expenses.

A special account has been set up at Fairwinds Credit Union. A donation can be made at any Fairwinds branch office, including two in West Volusia, at 136 S. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand, and at 2487 Enterprise Road in Orange City.

Donations can also be mailed to Fairwinds Credit Union at 3087 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32826. Specify the check is for the Kerr family.

But more than money is needed.

"Please join us in prayer for Neale Kerr and his daughters," Weldon wrote in a letter to parents.

— pat@beacononlinenews.com

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