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Ashley Hayes ReportingCharles Spence/Woodland Hills Volunteer Fire Dept.: "We had flames shooting up 30 to 40 feet. It was an exciting night for New Years, and a sad thing for these poor homeowners."
A home in Woodland Hills, in Utah County, went up in flames just before the New Year. Fire officials say a dry Christmas tree was the cause.
Last night around 11:00 pm firefighters from the Woodland Hills volunteer fire department were called out to a large house fire.
It was so big, several other agencies were called in to help.
A neighbor videotaped the fire. From his vantage point, all you can see of the house through the flames is the deck. The fire lit up the night sky. And on a night as cold as last night, firefighters had a hard time controlling it.
Everything the family living inside the Woodland Hills home had shopped for, wrapped, placed under their Christmas tree and exchanged, is gone.
Toby Harding, Woodland Hills Mayor: "It appears the house is a total loss."
Last night the very tree celebrated less than a week ago caught fire and destroyed everything.
Charles Spence, Woodland Hills Volunteer Fire Dept.: "The flooring has collapsed, the roof is sagging. To me it's a total loss."
A total loss for a family new to the area. They just moved into the home a few weeks ago.
Spence: "The house has been vacant for months. I guess they just moved into it."
The two men who were inside the house escaped without being hurt. One man told Mayor Harding he was putting a log on the fire when he turned around and, about 20 feet away, the Christmas tree was in flames.
"He said the fire was so intense in the tree that they just grabbed what they could and got out and called 911."
Because of the cold, firefighters say it was a difficult fire to fight. Hoses froze, up and water leaking from the trucks and hydrants made for slippery footing.
When the fire flared up around 4:00 am, firefighting equipment was too cold, and Woodland Hills needed help from their neighbors in Elk Ridge.
As for the cause of this fire...
"If we could just get people to use artificial trees, instead of ones that dry out. This is what can happen."
Spence says the house will be condemned.
