Russia's New Year's Eve celebrations go up in flames as giant Christmas tree catches fire in town square New Year's Eve celebrations went badly wrong in Russia tonight when a giant Christmas tree caught fire in front of thousands of revellers. The 80ft illuminated tree in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk turned into a blazing inferno and was destroyed in minutes. Onlookers watched in horror as the devastating fire took hold in Lenin Square, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Island, Russia. New Year revellers were warned to keep clear while Soviet-era music continued to blare from the festive concert. There were no reports of injuries. Source Christmas Tree Burns Down As Putin Gives New Year Address 2018: