Fire destroys home for family of three
Karen Nichols photos/Daily Inter LakeAfter a fire destroyed her home last Friday, Mary Ernsperger carries a few salvagable items from the home Tuesday evening. She was renting the cedar duplex and had no insurace to cover her family's belongings. Her employers and co-workers at Merlin Information Systems have rented her an apartment for a month and supplied some basic supplies and furniture, but she is hoping to find a permanent home soon.
Co-workers of a woman whose home burned early Friday are trying to raise money to help her and her children.
A fund has been set up at Valley Bank for Mary Ernsperger, 42, and her two children, Tessa, 6, and Connor, 4.
The predawn fire destroyed the duplex they rented on U.S. 2 west of Kalispell. Despite the efforts of firefighters from Evergreen, West Valley, Smith Valley and South Kalispell fire departments, the structure was destroyed.
Ernsperger was awakened by what sounded like a cat scratching. It was actually the crackling from a fire that was powering up on the back deck of the duplex. A window shattered.
Ernsperger had just enough time to grab her cell phone to call 911 and get her sleeping children out of the home.
The fire traveled up to the attic of the home, collapsing the ceiling into the living space and destroying most of the contents of the home. Some items that were stored in the garage are salvageable, she said.
It took a day or so for Ernsperger to realize the magnitude of what happened.
"It's quite shocking when you lose everything," she said.
Now Tessa, Connor and their mother are settled temporarily into a small, two-bedroom apartment.
Ernsperger's co-workers at Merlin Information Systems rallied to help her. Co-owner Jordonna Dores and others rented an apartment for the family for one month. The staff donated furniture, some basic kitchen supplies, linens, toiletries and even groceries.
"It's really helped quite a bit," Ernsperger said.
As grateful as she is to have an intact roof over her head, she hopes the apartment is only temporary. It is small for three people and has no yard in which her children can play, she said.
"I need to find a permanent home," she said.
That's why Ernsperger's co-workers set up the bank account, hoping to generate a fund she can use to rent something suitable for the family.
Contributions may be made by designating checks to the Ernsperger account.
On Tuesday, Ernsperger wanted people to know how grateful she is for the help she and her children have received.
"People are amazing," she said.
Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com