Lightning Strike Blamed in Moccasin Trail Fire

A lightning strike is the likely cause of a house fire that caused $75,000 in damage at 1653 Moccasin Trail early Tuesday morning.

The fire was reported at 2:53 a.m. after the home’s occupants woke up to the sound and light from a lightning strike, according to a news release from Battalion Chief Joe Hoffman. No injuries were reported in the incident.

“The couple attempted to fall back to sleep, but soon they were alerted to the smell of smoke, the sound of popping/ cracking and the activation of the smoke alarms,” the release states. “The residents then called 911 and exited the house and awaited the fire department’s arrival.”

The fire was found in the walls around the fireplace and the fire department quickly extinguished the fire, limiting the damage on the property worth $718,000 to $75,000, according to the news release.

The fire remains under investigation but preliminary indications in the investigation point to a lightning strike, the release states.