NATCHEZ — A house at 111 Pecan Way, Natchez, was destroyed Friday night during a fire that started between 10 and 11 p.m., the owners of the house said.

Natchez fire officials said the house was a total loss and firemen fought the blaze until approximately 3 a.m. Saturday, successfully preventing the surrounding houses from receiving damage.

The owners of the house, Kevin and Dana Wilson, said when the fire started the house was occupied by a family who began renting the house only a few weeks ago.

Everyone inside the house at the time of the fire escaped safely without injury, the Wilsons said.

“Even the dog made it out,” Kevin Wilson said Saturday afternoon as he assessed the damage. “(The renter) said he was asleep and heard a popping sound and smelled the smoke when he ran out.”

The house was almost completely empty at the time of the fire except for a few pieces of furniture brought in by the new occupants, Kevin Wilson said.

The roof of the house was destroyed from one end to the other and nothing but rafters remained Saturday.

Most of the fire damage appeared to have been to the kitchen area where Kevin Wilson said he suspects the fire may have started.

Officials said the cause of the fire was still being investigated Saturday afternoon.

“The Natchez Fire Department and the police department did a phenomenal job,” said Dana Wilson, who arrived on the scene after 11 p.m. Friday to find the house fully engulfed in flames. “They were here and did everything they could.”