Wheaton house fire blamed on items stacked too close to closet light

A Friday night fire in Wheaton that left a house uninhabitable appears to have been sparked by combustible materials near a light fixture, authorities said Monday.

Emergency crews from the Wheaton Fire Department responded about 10:30 p.m. Friday to the structure on the 1500 block of East Geneva Road.

The fire had broken out in a closet on the second floor of the home. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control within minutes, officials said in a statement.

Everyone inside the house escaped safely.

Investigators have ruled the fire to be an accident. They said combustible materials were stacked close to a closet light fixture that was in use.

Damage estimates weren't available. The house has been deemed unsafe for occupancy due to the damage.

Wheaton police and several fire department from neighboring communities provided assistance on the scene.