NATCHEZ — Jasmine Washington stood outside of her pink-colored house on Christmas Eve with her three sons after the smell of smoke interrupted their holiday at approximately 10 a.m. Monday.

By the time the Natchez Fire Department had arrived at the house at 138 Homochitto St., the smoke had quickly transformed into a large blaze in an upstairs room of the house.

“At first, I couldn’t tell where it was coming from,” Washington said. “I thought the smell was coming from outside, but it wasn’t.”

Washington stood outside watching flames and smoke exit through the upstairs window of her house of nearly 20 years, feeling grateful she and her children were safe, she said.

Fire engines were parked at the front and back of the house while Natchez Police officers blocked off a section of Homochitto Street.

Firefighters quickly doused the flames and successfully prevented them from reaching the lower portion of the house, Capt. Rusty Anders of the Natchez Fire Department said.

“(The fire) was contained to the upstairs,” Anders said. “There is some heat, smoke and water damage to the bottom floors and no structural damage.”

Anders said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Washington said her Christmas presents were not ruined in the fire and that her children will be able to have a happy Christmas.

The damage to the house, which she estimates to be approximately 100 years old, however, did ruin her Christmas, she said.

Washington said she will spend Christmas with family.