A family loses their historic home in a fire, but are thankful for what they still have—each other.

Nikki Smith, Chuck Martin and four-year-old Savannah were sound asleep early Wednesday morning when the fire started. Within hours, their home was gone.

"This is what we have left of our home," Chuck tells us holding a charred historic plaque.

It was a home with history; built before 1876 in Merrillan, Jackson County. Nikki’s family had lived in it for decades. She, Chuck and Savannah moved in this June. They spent the summer fixing it up for their future.

"I took a lot of pride in it and really took care of the house and to see it go up in flames it breaks your heart. It does," Chuck says.

Around 3 a.m., Chuck and Nikki heard glass breaking and thought someone had broken in to their home. Then, Chuck saw the smoke.

"I ran and grabbed the little girl and ran her outside,” he says. “Then, I ran back inside and got the dog."

"Pretty much right after we got outside, it was instantly, the whole house was full of flames," Nikki says.

They were barefoot and had just a blanket. Savannah was in her nightgown. The fire burned for hours.

"Come on baby, there's a lot of dangerous stuff over there now," Nikki says coaxing her daughter away from the charred remains of their home.

The family is staying just across the street from that home. The Red Cross is helping them with clothes and a place to stay.

"It's probably time to move on. I don't want to see it everyday when we wake up," Chuck says.

But, they don't plan to move far; the generosity of the community proving to them a house doesn't make a home.

"I guess if you're going to have a house burn down, this would be the place to have it happen," Chuck says laughing a little.

"We're just thankful—really, really thankful,” Nikki adds.

Nikki and Chuck have homeowners insurance. They're not sure if they want to build on the same corner lot.

The Merrillan fire chief says right now they know the fire started in a bathroom. But, it’s unclear what caused it.