Santa Scott finds support from Lower Bucks County after fire destroys Fairless Hills home

It’s Santa who brings presents to make the Christmas season merry. But there is a role reversal in Fairless Hills as Lower Bucks County residents come to the aid of “Santa Scott” Diethorne, who lost everything in a house fire over the weekend, including his custom red suits and shiny black boots.

“The community has helped us so much,” he said, choking up Monday, days after the Saturday morning fire. He talked about what was lost, including his pets, his calendar of upcoming appearances, and his wife’s medications in the Fairless Hills home they shared.

“It’s all gone,” said Diethorne, who has portrayed Santa all over Lower Bucks for nearly 40 years, and for many families has become their go-to Santa for a generation at malls, stores, and special events.

Offers to help number in the hundreds and have overwhelmed since the Auburn Road fire, he said.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $100,000. Clothing is being collected. Even fellow Santas have offered him suits.

“The problem is I don’t wear an extra slim,” said the 6-foot tall, 350-pound father of nine as he chuckled and rubbed his belly. “Most Santas are slim today, that’s the in thing. I’m old school. I like to eat.”

Diethorne, 58, who works as a truck driver/mechanic, and on the weekends at Charlann Farms in Lower Makefield, said he can hardly believe the outpouring.

“I’m just a normal guy and I didn’t think anybody really cared if I was here or not,” he said.

About 9:45 Saturday night he was celebrating his daughter’s 23rd birthday at a Bensalem steakhouse when his phone began to “blow up” with messages from his neighbors. His house was burning. He rushed back.

“I got here just in time to see my Harley explode,” he said Monday afternoon, standing in front of his charred house.

It was luck that they weren’t home, he said. He and several family members had returned late from their jobs at the farm and debated going out to celebrate the birthday.

“Good thing we did because we probably wouldn’t have made it out,” he said.

The fire started in the attic, perhaps sparked by a wire which investigators marked with a red tag. The cause remains under investigation by the Falls Fire Marshal.

Diethorne’s priorities are, first, replacing his wife’s medications and, second, reassembling his calendar of bookings for the upcoming season of Santa appearances. He has some dates, like the Fairless Hills Garden Center, but most were lost when the calendar was destroyed in the fire.

“I told everybody who booked something with me to reach out, and if they could, remind me of the dates,” he said. “My plan is to be back in action.”

Daughter Sara Sokalski said they’ve had more than 400 inquiries and offers of help. She said if anyone has not gotten a response, it’s because so many have contacted the family offering condolences and help.

The best way to get a message to Diethorne is through the Facebook page of his daughter Val Kaiser of Levittown, since Scott’s inbox is jammed.

“The whole reason I do Santa is ’cause I want to make people happy,” he said.

He grew up in the Thornridge section of Levittown, the son of a steelworker and a homemaker.

“We didn’t have anything,” he said. “So, for us to go out and to do Santa pictures was unheard of back then.”

Daughter Sara Sokalski said: “Neither of my parents, in my entire life, 30 years on this earth, have ever been people who take things easily. They’re Team Tough. They’ve always worked hard. If you want something, you work hard. If you still don’t got it, you work harder. And I think it’s hard for them to accept the help. It’s so beautiful that so many people want to help.

“We ask for patience. This is a really hard time.”

Santa Scott said he will honor all of his appearances.

“Even if I have to do it in jeans and red T-shirt, I’ll do it,” he said.