Lightning Strike Initially Believed to Cause House Fire

Lightning during a sudden and severe thunderstorm is initially believed to be the cause of a house fire early Saturday evening, according to authorities.

Calls about a structure fire at a two-story house at 22677 Lilly Pad Lane came in around 4:30 p.m., and early scanner reports described heavy smoke coming from the house’s roof.  No one was injured in the fire, as it was in a foreclosed home, according to authorities.

Shortly before 6 p.m. firefighters were spraying the house’s roof from the top of an extended cherry-picker apparatus, though by 5:15 p.m. all firefighters left the inside of the house and were working on defensive measures, according to scanner reports.

Firefighters from several area districts assisting with the fire, including Mokena, Richton Park and Homer Township, left the scene around 6:15 p.m., though Frankfort Fire District firefighters remained near the house.

Linda Larson, who lives a few blocks west of the house, said she went outside of her home when hail started during the thunderstorm, and believes she saw a lightning bolt that hit the house.

“It looked so bright,” she said. “I haven’t seen lightning like that before.”

Further information on the fire’s cause was not available Saturday evening.