An early afternoon fire heavily damaged a home in the Placid Lakes subdivision, leaving a Lake Placid family of three homeless. “Everything we had was in the house,” said Christine Johnson. “Our clothes, our furniture ... everything was ruined by fire and smoke and water.”

Johnson said she and husband, James, had decorated a Christmas tree and presents were starting to pile up under the tree. “That’s all gone, too,” she said. “Right now we’re grateful to have each other.”