2 lightning strikes cause house, apartment fires

Damage for fires estimated at combined total of $90K

MADISON, Wis. — Lightning strikes from Monday morning storms caused two separate fires where no one was injured, according to a release from the Madison Fire Department.

The fires were 26 miles away from each other and happened just over an hour apart, officials said.

The first lightning strike happened just before 9 a.m. at 926 Winding Way, according to the release. The two people who were home at the time of the fire said they heard a big boom, and then saw sparks coming from the back of the home.

The residents went outside, and called 911 when they saw that their house was on fire, officials said. One of the residents attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.

When crews arrived they noticed gray smoke coming from a charred area on the second floor, according to the release. Crews removed siding and walls to make sure the fire hadn’t gotten further into the home, and they were able to stop the fire from spreading into the attic.

The fire caused an estimated $15,000 in damage.

The second fire happened around 10:15 a.m. in the 3800 block of Dawn Road, according to the release. A neighbor called 911 after hearing a loud boom and seeing smoke and flames near her apartment on the outside of the building.

Crews arrived and could see flames covering the outside of the apartment building, officials said. Firefighters extinguished the fire that damaged two apartments.

No one was home in either apartment at the time of the fire, officials said. Damage is estimated at $75,000.