AUBURN — A house fire on Xivray Street on Friday morning could have been the kind of tragedy that ruins Christmas.

Not this time, though. Firefighters knocked down flames in a basement before fire could spread far beyond the trash container in which it started.

Nobody hurt, property damage minimal.

Homeowner Jack Rametta was able to flee with his dog when smoke began to fill the house, which sits between Center and Turner streets.

Fire crews were there minutes later. Minutes after that, the fire was knocked down, limiting damage to the stink of smoke and some soggy fixtures.

An Auburn fire official said Rametta will be able to return to his house once the smoke is cleared and the house is deodorized. That was expected to happen early Saturday or possibly by late Friday.

Before Christmas, in any event.