OLD BRIDGE, New Jersey (WABC) — There was an emergency call to a house fire, and members of the Old Bridge volunteer fire department rapidly responded. When all hands are on deck, they need everyone – including a firefighter who was dressed as Santa Claus to answer the call.
Michael Hawkins was part of the Santa run on Tuesday night spreading holiday cheer, when the department got the call for help. There was no time to change clothes, and the fire was raging.
“I took my wig off and my had and my beard, because that would get in the way, and I didn’t want it to ruin them,” Hawkins said, “We were returning back to our route to go back to doing our Santa runs, and then this call came in for the structure fire. It came in as a full fire. Full blown fire.”
Hawkins has been playing the role of Santa for 29 years, but when his engine company arrived at the blaze on Sioux Street, he jumped into action and went to work helping colleagues battle the house fire.
“I knew my job was to get water to the firefighters and get water to the guys who were on the hose to get into the house,” said Hawkins, “so I was stretching line into the house as the firefighters were making entry into the house to get that fire out.”
Hawkins says family members were asking the fire department to save their house, but the flames moved quickly. The Christmas decorations are still in the front lawn, but the home was engulfed by flames.
“A home fire is a tragedy any time of the year, but it’s just so much worse now right before Christmas. I really hope that, you know, they can get the help that they need. And, you know, maybe put the spirit of Christmas back into their lives. I know they have kids and it’s a tragedy any way you look at it,” said Hawkins.
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More New Jersey news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
