NATCHEZ — For 60 years, William Zimmerman made his best memories in his house at 108 Vine St.

After catching fire Monday night, the house now stands only a charred and scorched shell of the home “Billy” grew up in and shared with his wife, Lene, and granddaughter, Heidi.

Billy was working offshore, and Lene and Heidi were at Heidi’s basketball practice when the house caught fire.

“A neighbor called while we were on our way home, and she was screaming at me to get out of the house,” Lene said. “I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ She said, ‘Miss Lene, your house is blazing.’

All I could think about was my little dog, who was inside.”

The Zimmermans’ Chihuahua, Ladybug, died in the fire.

The Zimmermans lost nearly all their belongings in the fire. The family did manage to salvage a few photographs that were in damaged albums.

“The material stuff somewhere down the road can be replaced,” Billy said. “But I couldn’t have replaced the lives of my wife and granddaughter.”

Though his family is safe, Billy, 60, said he is heartbroken to see the ultimate emblem of his childhood and parents gone.

Billy’s father, M.C., died in 1996, as did his mother, Mary Francis, in 2006.

“The house was the last part of my dad and mom that I had,” he said.

The Zimmermans’ house was not insured, which Billy said means the family will not be able to rebuild. Billy plans to have the remainder of the house torn down and the lot cleaned, so he can put a mobile home on the property.

“If I can come up with the money somehow, that’s what I want to do,” he said.

For now, the Zimmermans are staying in a room down the road at Lene’s parents’ house.

Lene said the family has received an outpouring of support from the community, especially at Adams County Christian School, where Heidi is in fifth grade.

Heidi, whose 11th birthday is today, said friends and even students she didn’t know at ACCS brought her clothes and offered kind words since the fire.

“I just want to tell everyone thank you, and thank you for being there and supporting us through all this,” she said.

Lene said she had always heard people talk about how ACCS was one big family.

“Now I know they are,” she said. “They have just been super with giving Heidi clothes. She has more clothes now than she has ever had. We just appreciate all the love and kindness everyone has showed us.”

Billy and Lene have been able to buy a couple of outfits for now and are working to save money to purchase a mobile home.

Anyone wishing to help the Zimmermans can make a donation to the Zimmerman House Fire Fund at Britton & Koontz Bank.

Heidi’s outlook on her family’s future seems to exude a touch of wisdom beyond her 11 years.

“We’re just going to take it slow,” she said. “We’ll get back on our feet.”