Lightning Strikes House, Causes Fire: Lockport Fire District

LOCKPORT, IL — A house fire was reported Monday evening after a Lockport home was struck by lightning, the Lockport Township Fire Protection District said in a news release.

The structure fire was reported at 6:57 p.m. Monday on West Caraway Court in Lockport. Crews arrived at the scene and found a fire in the attic space of a two-story single-family home, according to the fire district.

The occupants were home at the time of the incident and were able to evacuate safely, the fire district said. Crews on scene had to switch to "defensive operations" as the roof became fully engulfed in fire.

The residents are unable to stay in the home and were being assisted by the Red Cross. No injuries were reported from this incident, the fire district said.

The incident was elevated to the "full still" alarm level, which brought in equipment and personnel from East Joliet, Homer, Lemont, New Lenox, Northwest Homer, Orland Park, Plainfield and Romeoville either to the scene or to assist with covering the remainder of the fire district.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the Lockport Fire Investigators and appears to be the
result of a lightning strike from Monday's storms, the fire district said.