'Building back the Brants': Fundraiser planned for Baker couple who lost home in fire

BAKER — Steve and Beth Brant made it out of their home on Old River Road with only their pajamas and a cellphone used to call 911 after a large fire ignited in their garage on April 11.

“They had 40 plus years of memories, fellowship, love and coming home from a hard day’s work that burnt in a matter of two hours,” said Shea Boykin, a longtime friend of the family.

Multiple fire departments answered the call when the blaze broke out early that morning. The house was already engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, according to a report by the North Okaloosa Fire District.

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NOFD crews battled the blaze with firefighters from Crestview and Holt. They eventually called in tanker trucks from the Baker Fire District and Munson and Harold Fire and Rescue due to the size of the fire and lack of a water supply.

An investigation determined the fire was likely caused by an electrical issue — possibly a short circuit — in an panel in the garage.

The Brants are well-known to the Baker community from years of support for numerous organizations, and Boykin said many were quick to help after they heard of the fire. One couple brought them new clothes and offered them a place to stay.

Others provided food and company for the couple who lost not only their home and vehicles, but their dog Penny and many sentimental family heirlooms. Now, a fundraiser is being organized for June 18.

“I think I can speak for all when I say the reason we wanted to do the fundraiser, ‘Building Back the Brants,’ is because Beth and Steve are two very special, loved individuals in this community,” Boykin said. “They deserve for the community to come together for them in the way they have always stepped up for their community.”

The fundraiser will be at 4 p.m. at Gum Creek Lodge in Baker. The event will feature live entertainment by Dustin Herring, a musician from Nashville.

There also will be an auction, door prizes, raffle items, food and more. Tickets are $25 each, and all funds will go directly to the Brants to help take care of any expenses not covered by insurance.

“They are insured, thankfully, but it’s everyone’s experience that no matter how good your insurance is, it doesn’t cover everything in a catastrophic loss like this,” Boykin said.

Furniture from different generations burnt up in the fire, along with family, baby and wedding pictures. A slate coffee table that belonged to Beth’s parents had been in their den for over 30 years. Also gone were linens, cookbooks, pottery and silver pieces they had collected in their travels.

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“Their home was a bit of a museum of family and experiences, so many things that held high sentimental value, all with a story,” Boykin said. “Beth’s grandmother’s china, her great-grandmother’s kitchen table that hosted so many meals from Thanksgiving to grilled cheese sandwiches.”

Boykin said she and others have shared many meals at the Brants’ home, but their reach has extended beyond the Baker community. The couple organized a drive to take hot meals to Port St. Joe immediately after Hurricane Michael struck Gulf County and surrounding areas in 2018.

“Michael hit on Wednesday and on Sunday the Brants and a group of their friends took hot boxes of casseroles and barbecue to the only building in town powered by a generator, so it had AC, and served everyone who came their first hot meal in five days,” Boykin said.

The next week they led an even larger effort to take casseroles to a public park in Marianna and fed hundreds of people in need. The effort, called the “Casserole Convoy,” was greatly appreciated by people in both communities, Boykin said.

The Brants also helped establish the Mike Meeks Charity, a nonprofit that benefits less fortunate children, and have contributed their time and donations to the area homeless shelter, the Early Learning Coalition — for which Beth is the chairwoman — and more.

“The best way to sum up the Brants is if someone needs something, they will do everything in their power to help them,” Boykin said. “For as long as I have known Beth and Steve Brant they have always supported not only this community, but other events that support surrounding communities and individuals.”

Now, in their time of need, Boykin said the Baker community has been happy to help.

Boston butts smoked by Boudreaux Catering will be sold for $40 each in May to help bring in extra funds for the Brants. The deadline to order is May 16. For more information, call 850-305-6926.

"I can’t imagine trying to put into words all of the emotions they have experienced thus far," Boykin said. “My hope for the fundraiser is what I always hope for any fundraiser, which is support and for people to pour in all that they can because of the cause. And have a good time with great fellowship during the event. Especially this one.”

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Baker community raising funds for Brant couple who lost home in fire