Lightning blamed for 4 area structure fires

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Lightning is likely the cause of four fires Thursday evening in the NewsChannel 18 viewing area.

The first happened on County Road 350 North in Tippecanoe County near Montmorenci around 5 o'clock.

Firefighters said there was smoke visible when crews arrived.  Investigators believe a lightning strike nearby traveled through the ground and possibly through the air conditioning line. 

But Wabash Township Fire Department Deputy Chief Jim Lewis said some damage actually helped firefighters work.

"Fire was contained to the basement," he said.  "A lot of smoke damage because fortunately, they had a water line that burned through and kind of acted like a sprinkler and held the fire at bay."

No injuries were reported.  All the people and pets inside the home made it out safely.
    
The second house fire where lightning is to blame was in Lafayette, on Ann Drive, off State Road 38 near Ivy Tech.

Homeowner Alice Holladay said she was sitting in her living room watching television when she heard a "boom".  When she looked outside, she saw her flowers on fire.  But it wasn't until a neighbor came running over that she realized there was more to it.

"He said, 'Get out, because there's fire in the back by the gas meter'," Holladay said.  "So I went to my new neighbor's and the fire department came.  All the damage was outside, cosmetic damage, mostly."

Holladay said there was one spot in the bedroom where the fire came through the ceiling.  No one was injured.
    
In Clinton County, a fire engulfed a barn on County Road 450 North, about eight miles northeast of Frankfort.  Five fire departments responded to the call.

Firefighters are not sure what the cause is, but again, believe that lightning is the likely culprit.  The barn housed mechanical equipment.  No one was hurt.

The fourth fire was just a few miles away, on County Road 200 East, about seven miles east of Rossville, where a home was damaged.

Firefighters said they were able to contain the fire to the attic.  Four departments helped put the fire out. 

The cause remains under investigation, but officials say there were thunderstorms in the area. 

Because the fire appeared to originate off the television tower in the attic, it leads them to suspect lightning as the culprit in this fire as well.