Lightning May Have Caused Avon House Fire: AVFD

AVON, CT — Lightning may be to blame for a fire early Friday morning that damaged an Avon residence.

According to the Avon Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters were notified at about 3 a.m. Friday of a blaze on King Richard's Court.

"On arrival, crews found fire coming through a home’s roof," wrote the AVFD in a statement Friday.

This activated a second alarm, and several units from town and surrounding towns were called.

The AVFD said everyone was evacuated safely and there were no injuries.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but preliminary information indicates a lightning strike may be to blame.

A fast-moving round of thunderstorms crisscrossed the state early in the morning at about the same time as the fire.

The American Red Cross in Connecticut said Friday it is helping one family, two adults and one child, impacted by the blaze.

"The Red Cross provided assistance to meet the family's immediate needs," wrote the Red Cross in a statement.

"Red Cross volunteers distributed comfort kits containing personal care supplies such as toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo and other items a resident might need when suddenly displaced from their home by a fire. Additionally, the Red Cross provided a recovery envelope containing information helpful to families recovering from a fire, including tips on cleanup, notification of important contacts, handling damaged items and more."

The AVFD credited members of Task Force 54 — Town of Farmington Fire Department, Connecticut, Tunxis Hose Company No. 1, Burlington Volunteer Fire Department, Plainville Fire Company, Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company, Canton CT Fire and EMS Department, and Lost Acres Fire Department — as well as Newington Volunteer Fire Department — for providing station coverage in town during the incident.