Community rallying to raise funds for family who have lost it all
Flames engulfed the Kerce family home early Friday morning
Flames engulfed the Kerce family home early Friday morning
The community is not only mourning but rallying to help a family who lost everything including 10-year old Cyrus Kerce in a fire that spread through the family's mobile home Friday morning north of Brewton.
Cyrus, 10, was described as being an autistic and non verbal W.S. Neal fifth grader who failed to escape the burning home when the fire erupted.
"There are no words to describe it other than it's my worst nightmare," Cyrus' mother Kathy McClure Kerce said. "It's terrible."
Kathy said she, Cyrus and daughter Sarah, 9, were inside the home when the fire began about 9 a.m. and feels that Cyrus got a lighter and set a mattress on fire. Husband and father Brian Kerce was at work at the time.
Kathy said when she went to the bedroom, the fire was contained to the mattress and she yelled to Cyrus and Sarah to get out of the house. She said she tried to put the fire out and then tried to stuff the mattress through the window, but the flames got out of control.
When Kathy got outside she found Sarah but Cyrus could not be found.
"I tried to get my son out the door," she said. "I think he got scared and hid inside the house. It was the perfect storm for disaster."
Kathy said once outside she dialed 911 and she began screaming, noting her mother lived next door.
She said the flames were too intense for her to go back inside.
"I'm still in shock," Kathy said Wednesday.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family, which is now living next door at Kathy's mother's house. To make a donation, go to gofundme.com and search for the Kerce family.
Donations of clothes are also being accepted but Kathy said the real need now is for W.S. Neal uniforms for Sarah in sizes 10 to 12 and size 3 girls shoes. Brian wears 36 waist pants, large shirts and 10.5 shoes. Kathy wears size 14 pants, large shirts and 7 to 8 shoes.
Any donations can be sent to the Kerce address at 130 Robbins Road, Castleberry, Ala. 36432. Although the house is gone, they are living next door and can still receive mail.
