ANDERSON, Ind. —
Iraq War veteran Brandon Wilson awoke Monday morning to find the ceiling of his apartment on fire.
“I have no idea how I woke up, but thank God I did,” said Wilson, 31.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames at Courtyard Apartments, 2725 W. 16th St., but the damage had been done. With the exception of the sweatpants and sweatshirt he slept in, Wilson lost everything.
Among his prized possessions was a ballot from the 2005 Iraq parliamentary election. A U.S. Marine, Wilson worked security at a polling site.
The residence’s inhabitants in Monday’s fire — Wilson’s brother, Christopher, 28, and his two pit bulls — made a safe exit.
For two days, the brothers shared a hotel room paid for by the American Red Cross, which also provided clothes and money.
On Wednesday, however, Wilson said that he and his brother were on the streets because they’ve run out of money and that Courtyard Apartments refused to place them in another apartment to finish out their lease.
Wilson said Courtyard staff told him that they could find him another apartment but that he would have to sign a new lease. Wilson didn’t want to do that because his original lease is up this spring and he wasn’t planning to renew.
Among the reasons: The apartment complex, Wilson claims, has electrical problems.
On Monday, Fire Chief Phil Rogers said the fire’s cause appeared to be faulty electrical wiring. Rogers estimated damage to the building at $100,000.
A Courtyard employee named Charlene said in a telephone interview Wednesday that the apartment complex offered to relocate Wilson but that he refused. Charlene, who would not give her last name, said company policy dictated it could not offer a lease for less than one year, no matter what the circumstances.
When asked about problems with electrical wiring within the apartments, Charlene hung up.
Anderson Municipal Development Director Frank Owens said he was familiar with the complex and planned to send an inspector to investigate.
Wilson, who said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, said the fire brought him back to his time in Iraq. He feels he is being shown a “lack of compassion” by Courtyard.
With no family in the area, Wilson said, he and Christopher have no place to go. His coworkers at Applebee’s restaurant have taken up a collection plate for his benefit, and some opened up their homes.
On Wednesday night, Wilson said he and Christopher would stay with a friend in Fishers. He has talked to an attorney about filing charges against Courtyard Apartments.
“At this point I’m just trying to get my life back to normal,” Wilson said.
Contact Sam Brattain: 640-4883, sam.brattain@heraldbulletin.com
Cops, courts and fires
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Brandon Wilson, right, and his brother Christopher were awoken by a fire in their apartment on Monday. The brothers say they are now homeless because they don't want to sign a new one-year lease since they plan to move away from Anderson. Don Knight
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Iraq veteran displaced after apartment fire
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