Mail carrier saves Christmas, empties burning mail truck

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — A mail truck caught fire while making deliveries in a North Carolina neighborhood Tuesday morning. Residents said the worker who pulled the packages out saved Christmas.

It was just after 7 a.m. Tuesday when a 16-year-old Wake Forest resident posted is video of a mail carrier and a good Samaritan rushing to move the parcels from a burning truck.

Another resident who spoke to the mail carrier after the fire was out said the carrier was very concerned about saving the packages.

"She seemed like she was OK, and she did a fantastic job, a heroic job, of trying to save the packages first -- especially at this holiday season," said Rob Harper.

Officials said the fire started in the engine compartment and spread to the rest of the vehicle.

The Wake Forest Fire Department put the fire out within minutes of arriving on scene but gave all the credit to the mail carrier and passerby for saving the packages.

"If it wasn't for her quick thinking to pull right over and remove the parcels, it could've been tough. Somebody did save Christmas. You give all the credit to that postal carrier," said Wake Forest Fire Department Chief Ed Barrett.

Many of the dozens of packages, most of which were from Amazon, were saved.

In a statement, Amazon said, "We appreciate the efforts of all those involved and are grateful that everyone is safe. We will be donating to the local fire department and thank everyone for their quick efforts on this."

The postal service is working with customers who are missing packages.

Cox Media Group