May 30, 1996

Lightning sparks fire

       A White River Township family escaped unhurt Sunday night when lightning struck their house.  The lightning sparked a fire at 2647 Willow Lakes Drive that caused $10,000 damage. Most of the damage was confined to the attic and exterior of the house.  The brick-and-wood tri-level house of the Terry Hogan family was struck twice, possibly at the same time.  “It blew the top of the chimney off and hit the front peak of the house,” said Capt. Jeff Wilson of the White River Township Fire Department.  Lightning traveled through the wiring and blew out light fixtures. There was fire and smoke damage to the attic, but the blaze did not spread through the rest of the house.  “They were very lucky,” Wilson said.  “It wouldn’t have taken (the fire) much longer to have taken off across the attic. We got to it quick enough to get it stopped.”  Firefighters recommended an electrician check the wiring before power is restored. The family is insured, Wilson said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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