(This story has been updated with new information and a photo.)
A local recovery coach has died after a house fire in St. Clair Township Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Laura Bramlett, 47, was inside the home on the 4300 block of Yankee Road when firefighters responded round 2 a.m.
When the St. Clair Fire Department arrived on scene two of the residents were on the porch, a 16-year-old girl and a 73-year-old woman, but Bramlett was reportedly still inside.
Firefighters and St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted multiple times to enter the house, according to a statement from the St. Clair Fire Department, but were unable to due to the fire and smoke.
Firefighters were eventually able to reach Bramlett through a second-story window. She was taken to Mclaren Macomb by Tri-Hospital EMS, where she reportedly died from her injuries.
The St. Clair County Fire Department reported the two other women at the scene were also injured.
“Our thoughts are with the family who lost their loved one, their home, belongings and two pets,” the St. Clair Fire Department said in a statement.
The Port Huron Odyssey House, an organization which provides support and housing services for those recovering from addiction, said in a Facebook post Bramlett had been a recovery coach that worked with Odyssey House and St. Clair County Community Mental Health.
“It is always heartbreaking when one of our recovery champions is gone,” Port Huron Odyssey House said in its social media post. “Port Huron Odyssey House has just learned of the passing of Laura Bramlett a former recovery coach of CMH currently with Crossroads. We join the mourning of the recovery community and send heartfelt condolences Laura’s entire family. Perhaps she has passed from our sight but she remains alive in our memories.”
Debra Johnson, CEO of St. Clair County Community Mental Health, said Bramlett had worked there since 2022.
“We are incredibly sad to have lost one of our colleagues,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Bramlett worked hard to help others with recovery and was promoted in 2023 to case manager after earning her bachelor’s degree, working with people who suffered from both mental and addiction disorders. She was looking to earn her master’s before her death.
“She always went the extra mile to make sure people’s needs were met,” Johnson said. “She really was a wonderful human being.”
Angela Valdivia worked with Bramlett through Crossroads Recovery Community in Port Huron, which provides transitional housing for people in recovery. Valdivia said Bramlett was not just her colleague, however, but also her friend who inspired her.
Valdivia met Bramlett in 2021 when they were in recovery together. At the time Valdivia said her children had broken off contact with her over her addiction, but she was inspired when she saw Bramlett receive her coin marking five years of sobriety. The coin was presented to Bramlett by her son, according to Valdivia, whom she had previously also been estranged from.
“That was the first time I had hope my boys would come around,” Valdivia said.
Valdivia described Bramlett as someone strong in her faith who was always bringing gifts to donate anonymously.
“Laura would give everything to help the next person with their suffering,” Valdivia said. “She absolutely had a servant’s heart.”
Johnson said St. Clair County Community Mental Health is considering ways to honor Bramlett’s legacy. The organization doesn’t have any specific plans yet, but said several ideas were being considered.
Despite the grief still being raw, Valdivia said she knows if Bramlett would tell her loved ones everything would be fine.
“We can find meaning within her legacy of hope she gave to the community,” Valdivia said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office.
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and St. Clair Fire Department were assisted on scene by the Marine City Fire Department, Kimball Township Fire Department, Tri-Hospital EMS and St. Clair Police Department.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Local recovery coach dies in St. Clair Twp. house fire
Reporting by Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
