ALBURGH, Vt. -
Larry Turner was ready to move into an Alburgh, Vermont home with his wife and three kids.
They picked it because of the property space and this past weekend they spent thousands fixing it up.
"Just laid down the new carpet in here to get that buttoned up," said Turner.
But on Christmas morning they were treated to a gift they wished they never received.
"Got coffee, a bite to eat. Stopped to talk to one of the guys at the store and came back here and noticed there was a little bit of extra smoke out by the chimney here," said Turner.
Firefighters say somewhere in here a fire began to burn, although they're not sure how.
They got it quickly, but not before it spread through the trailer.
But Chief Tyler Gotshall says it's a good thing a lot of the Turner's possessions weren't there.
"They'd been ruined. There was extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the entire building. So it was a nice thing that they hadn't moved their gifts in yet," said Gotshall.
Because there's very few people that live nearby fire leaders say if the owners weren't there doing renovation work, there's a good chance the house would have burned down.
"It's sort of their Christmas miracle, I'd guess you'd say," said Gotshall.
Turner doesn't see it that way.
"I know you just spent $3,000 renovating this place, how are you feeling?" said FOX44/ABC22.
Cleary a tough question as Turner turned around and fought back tears before he gave his answer.
"Not good," said Turner.
Although firefighters say the house isn't destroyed, Turner doesn't see how he can fix this.
"Don't know. We'll figure it out," said Turner.
Turner says he hopes the American Red Cross will be able to help his family out.
They would stay put in their current home, but it has already been sold and they have to move out.
No one was injured putting the fire out.
