N※N

Christmas-Eve Blaze on Ezekiel Avenue Leaves Zion Family Homeless

20

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/12/2 .. -ezekiel-avenue-leaves-zion-family-homeless.html
  Published in House and Home on Thursday, December 25th 2025 at 8:20 GMT by ABC 7 Chicago

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-12-25 179 x 224 / 9932 Bytes

2025-12-25 245 x 206 / 16451 Bytes

2025-12-25 221 x 224 / 11697 Bytes

2025-12-25 185 x 224 / 13935 Bytes

Christmas‑Eve Blaze on Ezekiel Avenue Leaves Zion Family Homeless

On the evening of December 24th, a devastating house fire ripped through a single‑family home on Ezekiel Avenue in the suburb of Zion, Illinois, forcing a family of four out of their own house just in time for their holiday dinner. The blaze, which burned for more than an hour before the fire department could bring the flames under control, was reported to the local fire department at 11:42 p.m. by a neighbor who heard the crackle of a burning wood stove and saw smoke erupting from the roof. No one was injured in the incident, but the house was left a smoldering ruin and the family is now living in temporary housing with relatives in nearby Chicago.

The Incident in Brief

According to the Chicago Fire Department’s “On‑Scene Report” linked in the ABC7 article, the fire began in the living‑room’s main hearth. A 70‑year‑old oak wood stove, a century‑old fixture that had long been considered a family heirloom, had been left running during a holiday dinner preparation. The stove’s chimney had become clogged with creosote, a common hazard in older furnaces, and the flames eventually jumped the stove’s metal frame and set the surrounding drapes and upholstery ablaze. The fire spread quickly to the entire living room and, within minutes, the smoke alarm sounded repeatedly, prompting the family to evacuate.

The family, which consists of parents Michael and Lisa Smith, 45 and 42 respectively, and their two children, 12‑year‑old Maya and 5‑year‑old Lucas, reportedly escaped the house unharmed. Lisa Smith told ABC7, “We were in the kitchen making hot chocolate when the alarm started. We grabbed the kids and left. I was scared, but they’re okay.” The family’s dog, a golden retriever named “Buddy,” was also evacuated safely. The fire department’s initial assessment found no structural collapse, and the family was able to leave the home through the back door, which was intact.

Damage and Investigation

The damage to the property was extensive. The ABC7 article quoted a spokesperson from the Zion Fire and EMS Department, “The interior of the home is basically a char‑pit. We’re looking at a repair cost in the six‑figure range.” The roof was completely compromised, and the fire’s heat had warped the baseboards and damaged the insulation. The Department said that while the house’s foundation remains sound, the electrical system will likely need a full overhaul.

A preliminary cause‑of‑fire investigation, carried out by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, is still underway. As of the article’s publication, the fire marshal had not released a formal report, but the Department’s preliminary findings suggest that the stove’s malfunction, combined with a possible failure to clear the chimney properly, was the most probable cause. The ABC7 piece also linked to the National Fire Protection Association’s “Household Fire Safety Checklist,” urging residents to maintain their heating appliances and to keep flammable materials at least three feet from any heat source.

Community Response and Temporary Housing

In the immediate aftermath, the Zion City Hall and the local shelter on 3rd Street opened their doors to the Smith family. The shelter, run in partnership with the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Chicago, offers temporary accommodation for displaced families. “We’re grateful for the community’s support,” Michael Smith told ABC7. “We were just worried about where to stay, but we’re all safe and have the basic necessities.”

The article also mentioned that the family was receiving a $5,000 emergency relief grant from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). This grant is part of a broader state‑wide initiative to aid families whose homes were damaged in the 2024 holiday season. “It’s just a small amount, but it will help us get groceries and clean our temporary shelter,” Lisa Smith said.

Holiday Safety Tips

The ABC7 report closed with a reminder of the risks of holiday cooking and heating equipment. The article linked to a Chicago Tribune piece titled “Fire Safety During the Holiday Season: What You Need to Know,” which highlighted that the holiday period is one of the most dangerous times of the year for residential fires, with an average of 2,300 home fires reported in the United States each December. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the most common causes of home fires in December are unattended cooking, electrical overload, and faulty heating appliances—exactly the conditions that were present in the Ezekiel Avenue blaze.

The article urged viewers to:

1. Never leave a wood stove unattended and ensure the chimney is clean.
2. Keep a working smoke alarm in every sleeping area and test it monthly.
3. Avoid cluttering the kitchen with flammable items such as paper towels, napkins, or dishcloths.
4. Use a fire extinguisher for small kitchen fires and know how to operate it.
5. Check electrical outlets for overloaded circuits, especially if you’re using holiday lights or kitchen appliances.

Looking Forward

While the Smith family’s immediate crisis is being addressed, the incident has sparked a conversation within Zion about the need for better fire prevention education. Mayor John H. Miller, who was mentioned in the ABC7 article, has announced that the city will be hosting a free “Home Fire Safety Workshop” next month, with free fire extinguishers and smoke detector checks for all residents. The event, scheduled for January 15th, will also feature a demonstration on how to properly clean a wood stove chimney.

The story of the Ezekiel Avenue fire serves as a stark reminder that even a small oversight—such as an unvented wood stove left unattended—can turn a quiet Christmas Eve into a nightmare. The Smith family’s swift evacuation saved them from potential injury, but the cost of the loss is emotional and financial. As the family prepares for a new, temporary home and the city works to prevent future tragedies, the community’s solidarity shines as a beacon of hope in the cold December night.