Florida Family's Christmas Saved By Firefighters: PHOTOS

MULBERRY, FL — Florida firefighters quite literally saved Christmas for one family over the weekend when a fire broke out in their two-story home.

Once first responders from Polk County Fire Rescue learned that a 13-year-old girl made it safely out of the burning home — and no other people or pets were left inside — they turned their attention to saving the family's Christmas spirit.

"PCFR crews quickly got to work, put water on the fire and managed to keep the fire contained to the second story of the home," according to fire officials.

"The crew of PCFR Engine 2 presented the idea to retrieve the family's Christmas gifts, as they stood the chance of being damaged," officials said. "One of the crews inside the structure, which was still in full bunker gear, handed the family's Christmas gifts and Christmas tree to the crews outside."

The fire is believed to have started in a second-floor bedroom while the teenager was on the first floor.

Fire officials said the exact location and cause of the blaze were still under investigation but that nothing appeared suspicious. The fire started around 4:15 p.m. Saturday at the home, in the Preserve at Sundance of Mulberry.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the family. The family will have the Christmas it prepared for this year thanks to the firefighters.

"All of the family's gifts and tree were able to be retrieved undamaged," Polk County Fire Rescue officials added.