UPDATE (Dec. 13, 2:32 p.m.): Some Rockdale residents are facing a tough Christmas after their home went up in flames on Tuesday.

The Rockdale County Fire and Rescue Department responded in force to a house fire at 1773 Big Horn Court after a neighbor called 911. Firefighters found the two-story home engulfed in flames as five engines, a squadron and a ladder truck responded to the call.

Of the eight residents who lived in the house, no one was home at the time.

One resident, Amy Smith, was at the grocery store when the Conyers Police Department called to notify her of the fire. She raced back to see the place she had called home for the past year now smoldering.

“We have nowhere to go,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a bad Christmas.”

According to Fire Safety Educator, Sharron Webb, around 25 firefighters battled the blaze. Firefighters hosed down flames from the front yard, inside and on the rooftop from a hole carved out with a chainsaw.

The fire was spotted by a neighbor across the street.

White said, “He saw flames shooting out, and when we came out and saw no one was home, we were able to locate (the residents) and call them.”

The fire was under control by 1:30 p.m. The fire inspector is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

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(Dec. 13, 12:17 p.m.) IN BRIEF: Firefighters are battling a blaze at a residential home in the Hunting Creek neighborhood, near Ga. Highway 138 and Flat Shoals Road, that broke out shortly after noon. At least six engines are at the scene. Check back for more on this developing story.