A 13-year-old girl who had just beaten cancer tragically died in a house fire caused by a firework on July 4.
Jerilynn Brown had rung the bell at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City just two weeks earlier, celebrating the end of her two-year battle with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
But in the early hours of July 4, smoldering debris from fireworks ignited outside her family’s home in Independence, Missouri, setting the property ablaze at around 5:30AM.
“It was a breezy night,” Independence Fire Chief Jimmy Walker told KHSB, explaining how wind fanned the flames overnight.
“Hours can elapse while a fire smolders … We always have to worry about smoldering fires and the fact that they can go undiscovered for a number of hours and eventually can become out of hand quickly.”
Walker confirmed that there were no working smoke detectors in the farmhouse at the time of the fire.
“To see a young girl who just beat cancer to have it end like this. I'm speaking on all of our folks, our heart goes out and we are all very upset about this as well,” Walker told Fox 4.
“Hours can elapse while a fire smoulders, this can happen at any time, lightning strikes, we always have to worry about smouldering fires and the fact that they can go undiscovered for a number of hours and eventually become out of hand very quickly.”
Fire officials reported that the fire started on the decking outside the property after “embers” from fireworks ignited the area.
Jerilynn’s father, Jerry Brown, confirmed she had just returned home after ringing the bell marking the end of her treatment.
“She just rang the bell,” he told KMBC. “She just rang the bell, and a month later, here we are, and I'm talking about my baby girl. She just got me to church. I quit drinking, 17 months. All that is because of her.”
Tragically, the fire also claimed the life of 52-year-old Marc Anthony Young Sr., who died on Sunday after fighting for his life for nearly three days, according to his son, Marc Anthony Young Jr.
Jerilynn’s mother, Liz Stephens, remains in the hospital “fighting for her life” due to severe burns, her husband Stephen Miller confirmed.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help Jerilynn’s family rebuild their home and cover the costs of her funeral, describing the unimaginable pain the family is facing.
“In the early morning of July 4th, tragedy struck the lives of Jerry Brown and Liz Stephens in the most unimaginable way," the page reads.
It continues: "A devastating house fire destroyed their home, taking with it everything they owned - and most heartbreakingly, their 13-year-old daughter, Jerrilynn Brown.
"Jerrilynn was a bright, brave, and beautiful soul who had just overcome a long battle with cancer only two weeks prior. Her strength and spirit touched everyone who knew her. To have her taken so suddenly after all she had endured is beyond heartbreaking.”
The fundraiser continued: “In addition to the loss of their beloved daughter and home, Liz is currently in the hospital, fighting for her life due to injuries sustained in the fire. As Jerry stays by her side, they are navigating unbearable grief and overwhelming uncertainty.
“We are raising funds to help cover the cost of Jerrilynn’s funeral, provide essential support for Liz’s ongoing medical care, and assist Jerry and Liz in beginning to rebuild their lives, replacing clothing, personal items, and basic needs that were all lost in the fire.
“No amount can heal this pain, but your support - whether through a donation, a share, or a prayer - can help bring a glimmer of hope to this devastated family. Please consider helping in any way you can. Every dollar and every kind word means the world right now. Thank you for your love and support.”