'Unknown Explosive Device' Thrown Into Evanston Home, Police Say

EVANSTON, IL — Police and the state fire marshal are investigating whether an explosion and fire reported Tuesday in a home near Evanston Township High School was intentional.

Around 11:30 p.m., Evanston firefighters were dispatched to a home in the 1400 block of Brown Avenue for a report of a house on fire after an apparent blast.

Local fire crews were able to extinguish the flames relatively quickly, according to Division Chief Kim Kull.

Police opened a criminal investigation into the incident, with a bomb squad, police dog and fire investigators called to the scene.

Department spokespeople did not provide any information about the incident Wednesday morning. (No interim police chief has been announced publicly since Monday's surprise retirement of Chief Demitrous Cook.)

On Wednesday afternoon, Evanston Police Department Cmdr. Ryan Glew issued a statement confirming no one was in custody in connection with the incident.

It said local police are working with the state fire marshal and "other outside agencies" as part of the investigation.

"The initial investigation revealed that an unknown subject broke one of the first floor windows and then threw an unknown explosive device inside the residence," according to the statement.

"The device detonated causing significant damage to the house, including breaking some or all of the first floor windows."

Neighbors told WLS-TV, which first reported the blaze, that they helped a resident and her children escape from the building.

Witnesses told WMAQ-TV those inside the house appeared to have been partially blinded and deafened. One of the residents told the station that the explosive device had been thrown into the room of her 3-year-old son.

"I don’t know who would do something so terrible," she said.

Five people were reportedly rescued from the house, including two on the upper floor and three from the ground floor. Police said there were no significant injuries.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to contact detectives at 847-866-5040 or text the message "EPDTIP" and information to 274637.