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Dec. 21--PALESTINE -- The quick thinking and actions of a deputy who responded to a house fire Monday morning helped save Christmas for a Palestine family.
Anderson County Sheriff's Office deputy Mike Mitchell responded to a house fire in the 1600 block of FM 321 at 10:30 a.m. Monday and upon arrival found the back part of the double-wide mobile home fully engulfed.
"Deputy Mitchell grabbed a couple of firemen and they were able to rescue the Christmas presents and tree," Sheriff Greg Taylor said Tuesday morning. "So in a bad situation there was a little bit of good."
Taylor said house fires are always devastating, especially during the Christmas season.
Although the mobile home was not totally destroyed, Taylor said the structure was "not livable."
Most of the presents saved from the fire were for grandchildren, according to the sheriff.
"It was just a nice gesture at this time of year," Taylor said about the actions of Mitchell and the firefighters who helped him.
"He (Mitchell) has a background in firefighting," Taylor continued. "He's a volunteer firefighter for the 84 East Volunteer Fire Department and used to work for the Texas Forestry Service."
Taylor praised the work of the responding fire departments, which included Montalba, Neches and Elmwood volunteer fire departments.
No one was injured in Monday morning's fire.
Taylor said the Red Cross had contacted the family displaced by the fire and was assisting them.
