Lightning-Sparked Roof Fire Causes $50K In Damage
ELGIN, IL (STMW) -- A lightning strike resulted in a fire on the roof and in the attic of a northwest suburban home on Sunday night, with damage estimated at $50,000.
The Elgin Fire Department got the call of a fire at the 800 block of Red Barn Ln. at 10:36 p.m. Sunday, according to Battalion Chief Terry Bruce.
The family was alerted by smoke detectors, but "initially didn't see anything" because the fire was on the roof, he said. When the smoke detectors wouldn't re-set they called the fire department.
Fire crews got to the single-family home within about five minutes, Bruce said. "The roof was on fire" from a lightning strike, but the fire was contained to the attic space.
"Extensive tearing apart" of the roof was necessary to find hidden fires in the attic and second-story walls, Bruce said.
None of the residents were injured, but the fire caused about $50,000 worth of damage, he said. The family was able to stay in the home.
It was the only reported incident of a fire caused by lightning in Elgin during the overnight storm, the chief said.
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