A Lincoln Park couple believes their Halloween decorations turned their favorite holiday into a horror.

Ray Brunert says a fast-moving fire gutted his house of three years while he and his girlfriend slept. Tina Scarnecchia believes the two strands of holiday lights she had on the porch sparked the blaze. She says she left the lights on overnight.

Fire experts say homeowners should not leave any holiday lights on overnight or when the house is vacant. They also suggest hooking the lights up to a timer so they don?t stay on for a long period of time. Fire experts recommend using flashlights or battery-operated candles to illuminate pumpkins.

Meanwhile, Brunert credits his dog for saving him and his girlfriend. He says the yellow lab barked violently to get the couple out of the house.