Complex sentence: In 1987 Christmas lights posted on the bridge to promote a toy drive started the fire; both the Jeffersonville and Louisville Fire Departments fought fought six to eight hours to put out the blaze.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1987 Christmas lights that were posted on the bridge to promote a toy drive started a fire. In the 1987 fire, both the Jeffersonville and Louisville Fire Departments fought six to eight hours to put out the blaze.