Crime & Safety
Brookline House Fire Sparked By Lightning: Chief
After a Brookline house went up in flames, the Fire Chief says the bizarre cause of the fire was likely due to a lightning strike.

BROOKLINE, MA — A fire at a Brookline home Tuesday was likely caused by a lightning strike, Brookline fire Chief John Sullivan said.
Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at a home on Somerset Road around 10 p.m. and found heavy smoke throughout.
Sullivan said everyone inside the house was able to make it out safely, but the house sustained some damage.
Find out what's happening in Brooklinefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The National Weather Service reports that lightning starts about 4,400 house fires each year, causing around $283 million in damages. About 16 deaths are attributed to lightning-caused fires each year, most of the victims being occupants of houses ignited by a bolt.
No additional information was immediately available.
Find out what's happening in Brooklinefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.