Three firefighters sought medical attention Saturday morning after battling a fire involving two houses and at least three garages in Evanston, officials said.

The fire broke out about 5 a.m. in the 1800 block of Laurel Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find one house and one garage in flames. The fire spread to a neighboring house and the other garages.

One firefighter was taken to Evanston Hospital with breathing trouble but was listed in good condition, officials said. The other two firefighters were treated for minor injuries on the scene, officials said. One house was unoccupied because the resident out of town, and the other house was vacant, Division Chief Thomas Janetske said.

The unoccupied house was a total loss, as were three of the garages, he said.

One neighbor, Donny Jordan, said he was awakened about 5 a.m. by the smell of smoke.

“Not a good way to wake up Christmas morning,” Jordan said. “Not a good way to wake up any morning.”

After about five minutes, Jordan said, he woke up his wife, who told him she smelled smoke as well. He inspected his house to make sure nothing there was burning.

“So once I figured it’s not my house, my second guess is that it’s got to be outside,” Jordan said.

He saw a garage on fire from outside his kitchen window and called 911.

“By the time the firetrucks got there, it started to spread to the second garage.

“It spread kind of quick,” Jordan said.

Neighbor Dorothy Headd said she believed the fire knocked out electricity to other houses on the street.

Fifty-three firefighters from six neighboring communities fought the blaze, Janetske said. The fire was extinguished about 6 a.m.

The cause was under investigation.

jgorner@tribune.com

cxsmith@tribune.com