Utah firefighters help Santa after his car catches fire

Steven Macey, right, a Santa-for-hire, from Orem, Utah gives a big hug to firefighter Capt. Danny Campbell after fire crews extinguished a fire on Macey's vehicle on Friday, Dec. 25, 2015 near Alpine, Utah. Firefighters called to the car fire in the Utah suburb got a big surprise early Christmas morning when they discovered the stranded driver turned out to be Santa Claus on the way to deliver presents. (Lt. Dustin Mitchell/Lone Peak Fire District via AP) Steven Macey, right, a Santa-for-hire, from Orem, Utah gives a big hug to firefighter Capt. Danny Campbell after fire crews extinguished a fire on Macey's vehicle on Friday, Dec. 25, 2015 near Alpine, Utah. Firefighters called to the car fire in the Utah suburb got a big surprise early Christmas morning when they discovered the stranded driver turned out to be Santa Claus on the way to deliver presents. (Lt. Dustin Mitchell/Lone Peak Fire District via AP)

By Associated Press December 25, 2015 2 min read

A stranded Santa Claus whose car caught fire Christmas morning is sure to put one northern Utah fire department on his nice list next year.

Steven Macey, a Santa-for-hire dressed in a red suit and beard, was on his way to deliver presents at a home when his car overheated and caught fire around 6:30 a.m. Friday, according to Lone Peak Fire Battalion Chief Joseph McRae.

Macey, 66, was not injured.

He has been portraying Santa for decades. After making appearances at Christmas Eve parties until 1 a.m., he headed to an early Christmas morning appointment at a home in Alpine, a city about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Macey said his older car began smoking after he climbed a snowy hill. He got out of the car and retrieved his St. Nick coat, belt and bells before moving away and calling 911.