NATCHEZ &045;&045; There’s no worse time to lose everything in a house fire than in the wake of a national disaster.

But that’s exactly the position Chris and Vonda Maier found themselves in last week.

&uot;We don’t have anything,&uot; Chris Maier said Thursday, surrounded by the scorched remains of his house.

The Maiers’ mobile home caught fire on Sept. 1. The couple got out alive, but didn’t have time to save any possessions.

Now, they are living behind the charred house on Alexander Road in a tent with an air mattress and limited supplies donated by family. Maier has tried to get help from the Red Cross, but said he received limited donations.

The mobile home was on family land, owned by Chris’s father. Chris was born on the land and has lived in the house for more than 20 years, he said.

His mother is going to loan him a trailer, which should be delivered soon. But even with the new home, the couple won’t have anything to put in it.

&uot;We’ll need a bed and everything,&uot; Vonda said.

Both receive disability checks and do not work. The mobile home was not insured. Vonda is suffering from a terminal illness.

Springfield Baptist Church has been donating meals. Neighbor Cathy Warren and Jodette Stevens are collecting donations for the Maiers. Warren can be contacted at 601-431-2755 or 601-446-8491. Stevens can be reached at 601-446-6417 or 601-431-1228.