Christmas Decorations Start Evanston House Fire: Fire Department

EVANSTON, IL — Christmas decorations started a house fire Monday morning that left three firefighters with minor injuries, authorities said. Shortly before 7 a.m., fire crews arrived in the 1100 block of South Boulevard to find heavy smoke and a moderate level of fire in the front of the single-family home.

Firefighters entered the house, searched it and cleared the interior, extinguishing the fire within 30 minutes of the initial call because due to a "quick offensive attack" by Evanston firefighters, according to Division Chief Paul Polep. The alarm was upgraded to bring in other nearby departments to cover the rest of the city in case of further fires.

Investigators at the scene determined the fire was caused by candles used as part of decorations for the holiday, Polep said.