Evanston firefighters found the rear porch of a home at 921 Maple Ave. fully engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene about 7 p.m. this evening.
Fire Chief Greg Klaiber says the first engine got there just two minutes after getting the call, and firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading into the interior of the house.
Klaiber says no one was at home when the fire broke out, although the owners arrived on the scene later.
He said that while there was water damage to the rear of the first floor and some minor smoke damage, he believed the home would be habitable.
No firefighgters were injured, and the family’s pet dog also was unharmed.
Klaiber says the cause of the fire is under investigation.