Finley family's house catches fire for 2nd time

FINLEY -- Cassie and Ryan Mercer had more on their minds this week than the birth of their first son.

Eleven days before Paxton joined the family of five, a faulty fan in their Finley home's furnace caused a smoky blaze that damaged most of their belongings.

For the Mercers it was deja vu.

Four and a half years ago, right before their daughter Iylie was born, a fireplace sparked a blaze that heavily damaged the same house.

"What are the odds of having two house fires -- through no fault of their own -- about a week before the birth of two of their children?" said Ryan Mercer's mother, Patty Huff of Kennewick.

Though their insurance company paid for a rental unit after the first fire, they had to continue paying the mortgage and utilities for several months while their house was being renovated.

"And we're talking only three weeks after Christmas with a new baby," Huff said.

Ryan Mercer's job as a car salesman at Legacy Ford supported the family, but replacing all of their belongings while keeping up with other bills proved too much.

A second mortgage helped pay off some of the debt, but after a car fire claimed their 1967 Ford Bronco late last year and with a slowing economy, the family was left struggling financially.

"I don't want to sound like a charity case, but this is overwhelming," said Ryan Mercer.

"There's a lot insurance doesn't cover," said Huff, who admits she's had to return to work to support herself after her husband's death last year.

Friends from the Mercers' church, Word of Faith in Kennewick, are trying to help them raise a $1,000 deductible, as well as to replace some of their lost belongings.

At first glance, their Finley property doesn't show many signs of anything wrong. The only thing out of the ordinary is a sign taped to the front door reading: "Keep out, 'ozone' in progress."

The ozone treatment is used to rid the house of smoke damage.

"This is just a fraction of what we lost," said Ryan Mercer, as he and his two eldest daughters, Gracie, 8, and Camryn, 6, walked past charred insulation in the home's hallway, leading to a colorfully painted playroom filled with smoke-damaged toys and households items.

They're expected to be able to return to their home in February.

-- Dalina Castellanos: 509-582-1542; dcastellanos@tricityherald.com