Out of tragedy on Christmas Eve came a moment that Monte Haas will never forget.

That afternoon, a trailer in Mills caught fire, essentially destroying the home that Sara Metcalf shared with her two young children and a fourth tenant.

No one was hurt in the afternoon blaze that was extinguished by Mills, Casper and Natrona County fire district personnel, but the fire effectively snuffed out a Christmas for Metcalf and her two children and her roommate, who were left without a home because of the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Neither Metcalf, her children, ages 5 and 3, nor roommate Shawn Tipton was home at the time of the afternoon blaze.

The four are staying at Casper's Holiday Inn on the River for now, their spirits buoyed temporarily by the kindness of the fire agencies, the Red Cross and a mystery man who played Santa Claus for Metcalf's two children.

Haas said the man, who works for Qwest Communications, arrived at the hotel, saw that Metcalf didn't have gifts for her children and then instructed his own children to buy the gifts they'd want for Metcalf's children.

"It was the most unbelievable act of kindness I've ever seen," said Haas, a friend of Metcalf. "That's why I love living in Wyoming."

The man purchased toys and clothing for the children before leaving, Haas said.

Metcalf, 25, was at work in Casper when the blaze in her single-wide trailer broke out, she said. She said she'd never seen her benefactor before Christmas Eve.

Tipton, who was visiting relatives when his home caught fire, said he, too, can't believe the man's generosity.

"I was very grateful for that," he said. "He was just extremely sorry that it happened, and that he just told us if we needed anything, to give him a call. He went above and beyond what anybody expected him to do."

Tipton, 26, who works at Wyoming Pipe and Tool, noted that four cats that lived in the trailer died.

Karin East, director of sales for Holiday Inn on the River, said the trailer's inhabitants will likely spend a week at the hotel while sorting their affairs.

Haas, who has known Sara Metcalf for a year, said he's still struck by the actions of one man.

"It definitely was the true Christmas spirit, and I know Jesus was right there with us," Haas said. "People don't come much better than Sara."