Firefighters spread Christmas cheer after devastating blaze

Generous firefighters have managed to put a smile on the face of a teenage boy who lost his family home in Melbourne just three days before Christmas.

In the hours after the devastating blaze, Santa arrived on a vintage firetruck with presents to replace those destroyed under the tree.

Despite being several days early, Father Christmas was the best part of an awful day for 13-year-old Peter McMahon.

“Now I believe that you've had a terrible night last night, mate,” Santa said, with a comforting arm around the teen.

“I really feel for you, and all these firefighters also feel for you."

Peter and his parents lost almost everything in a fire that tore through their home at Sunshine at 4.30am on Thursday.

Peter’s father said he first thought the family was being robbed.

“I woke up thinking it was the burglar with the back window cracking open. And I've called out, no answer. I went out there to see what I could do and the back porch was just engulfed in flames,” Mr McMahon told 7 News.

The McMahon family made it out safely with their dog Jasmine, but are facing Christmas with no home.

Firefighters from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade stepped in to make sure there were presents this Christmas, with gifts donated by generous Victorians.

While Peter thanked the local heros for the gifts, he also thanked them for putting out the fire.

Fire investigators believe the blaze was started by a cigarette that had been put out in an ash tray on the back porch, then blown onto a nearby wicker chair.

Over the course of a few hours, the butt set the chair alight.

To make matters worse, the household smoke alarm was not working.

Firefighter Glenn Veal said people often overlook their detectors and assume they are working.

“It seems basic, but so many people seem to forget about it and don't update their batteries and so forth,” Mr Veal said.

The McMahons will now stay with family over Christmas.