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The Shaifer's home at 11 Thorn Road in Adams County after it was destroyed by a Monday morning fire. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Nikki Shaifer stands outside as smoke shrouds her home at 11 Thorn Road in Adams County that burned up in a fire on Monday. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Firefighter stand outside the Shaifer's home that caught fire at 11 Thorn Road in Adams County Monday morning. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Zayden Shaifer wearing shorts and a borrowed jacket watches a Natchez fire truck outside his home on Thorn Road after it was destroyed in a fire. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

A firefighter stands outside as smoke shrouds the Shaifer's home at 11 Thorn Road in Adams County Monday afternoon. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — Nikki Shaifer said she was out at her job delivering mail in Adams County when she received terrible news — her house was on fire.

Nikki said three of her children — Xander, Ayden and Reagan — were at home with their aunt Angela at the house at 11 Thorn Road near Hutchins Landing Road in the county when it caught on fire before 11 a.m. They all made it out safely except for one of their dogs.

“Angela said it went up so fast all she could do was grab the kids and get out,” Nikki said. “Nothing out of the house was saved.”

The drive over seemed to take forever, Nikki said, “I was out on Highway 84 on my route.” By the time she left work and made it home, everything that the family of six had inside was gone.

The children huddled outside in blankets and pajamas in 30-degree weather on Monday afternoon. All they had were the clothes on their backs, Nikki said.

“I was going inside and saw the smoke coming from my brother’s room,” said Xander, Nikki’s 16-year-old son. “Most of us made it out OK, but our dog Harley ran back inside. We couldn’t get her out.”

He added they also have a few cats that hopefully ran off into the woods, but they haven’t seen them.

Nikki said they had just moved into the house four or five months ago and didn’t have insurance on it.

“We still have a house in town and have insurance there, but all of our belongings are here so that doesn’t help,” she said.

The family is in need of these size clothing items: for Nikki’s daughter Reagan, women’s size medium, pants size 8 and size 8 shoes; Xander, men’s extra-large, pants size 34X32 and size 12 shoes; Ayden, youth size 14/16 and men’s size 8 shoes; Nikki, women’s size extra-large, 14/15 pants, and size 8 shoes; Nikki’s husband Stuart, men’s size large and tall, 32X34 pants and size 10.5 shoes; and for Angela, women’s large or extra-large, 12/14 pants and size 7 shoes.

The children are also in need of school uniforms in these sizes for Cathedral Catholic School.

Clothes and other items can be dropped off at A Gallerie at 400 Main Street. Monetary donations can be sent through Venmo to Nikki’s daughter-in-law @kaelindaye.

This was the second home to be destroyed by fire in Adams County Monday morning.

Robin and Merissa Blake and their four children lost all they had in a house fire earlier Monday morning on Lower Woodville Road.

The house at 1083 Lower Woodville near White Apple Road was fully engulfed at approximately 4 a.m.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Robin Blake. “We’ve got an inspector coming by later. People have been giving us clothing and things and we’re extremely grateful for that.”

Kayce Hinson, a family friend who attends church with the Blakes, quickly started to ask for donations to help the family in their time of need.

Any additional donations can be dropped off at First Baptist Church in Vidalia, 100 N Hickory St. An online platform for monetary donations is still being set up. In the meantime, Hinson said donors can Venmo the family directly @merissablake.

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