Christmas lights ignite fire that partially destroys Lawrence County house

Christmas lights strung on a porch are believed to have been the cause of a house fire early Thursday morning in Lawrence County.

Fire officials told Trib news partner WPXI-TV that the fire started shortly after 1 a.m. at the house on Matthews Road in Mahoning Township.

An unidentified couple were home at the time. A woman heard crackling and discovered the fire.

They got out of the house safely, but part of the house was destroyed by the fire.

Mahoning fire Chief Francis Exposito told WPXI that the fire started on the porch, and believes it was an electrical fire started by Christmas lights strung on the porch.

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or on Twitter @BCRittmeyer.