NATCHEZ — The man seriously burned in a Saturday morning house fire remains hospitalized but is improving, family members said.

Larry Williams, 24, was sleeping when a fire broke out at his 644 E. Stiers Lane residence between 7 and 8 a.m., and received significant burns before his mother — Dorothy Ann Williams — was able to extinguish the flames on his body.

Larry Williams was taken to the burn unit at Baton Rouge General Hospital, and has burns over 70 percent of his body, his sister Orshawnda Williams said.

Larry has also been treated for kidney and lung issues related to the fire in recent days, she said.

“It has been a roller coaster ride, every day is critical, but they said (Tuesday) is the last day of the critical phase,” his aunt Luvena Williams said.

The house was destroyed in the fire, and Dorothy Williams said she and the rest of her family have been able to stay with family. Other help has been extended as well, she said.

Because the fire destroyed everything in the house, Alderman Tony Fields said a collection of goods is being taken for the family.

“It is a very unfortunate situation in that they lost everything, so we are taking whatever donations we can get, clothes, shoes, household items, toiletries and even monetary donations,” he said.

Of special need are clothing items, including:

-Clothes for a young girl, size 2T, shoe size 5

-Clothes for a young boy, size 3T, shoe size 6

-Clothes for a woman, size 14, shoe size 9

-Clothes for girl, size 9J, shoe size 7

-Clothes for a girl, size 8J, shoe size 9

The collection is being taken at Frazier Elementary School, Fields said, and those who want to give should drop off donations at the school office.

The donations are being dropped off with the family at the end of each day, Fields said.