A Tacoma family’s home caught fire on Christmas as they were celebrating the holiday across the country.
The two-story house on Wilkeson South Street caught fire Wednesday afternoon.
Pierce County fire investigators said a pan was on the stove when the kitchen caught fire.
The official cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“Pretty devastated. Unbelievable that my house was on fire on Christmas Day,” said Mary Healey, homeowner.
Healey said she and her family were celebrating the holiday in Georgia when they discovered the disaster; however, her son was home when the fire broke out, but thankfully, he wasn’t injured.
“He was very very distraught that the house was on fire. He’s pretty upset. He’s pretty devastated emotionally,” she said. “The kitchen is destroyed. Part of the living room is destroyed.”
When the house was engulfed in flames, several neighbors told KIRO 7 News that they rushed over and tried to slow the spread of the fire by hosing it down as they called for help.