Lightning sparks house fire

By Bruce Whetten

Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 5:51 PM MDT


Lightning is being blamed as the cause of a house fire that broke out shortly after 3 p.m. Friday in the 900 block of 11th Street.


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A storm that had moved into the area brought lighting and thunder with it. According to the National Weather Service three major lighting strikes were reported in the Douglas/Agua Prieta area and one of those strikes struck a two-story home on 11th Street.

Douglas Fire responded with three trucks and 12 men and contained the blaze to the back part of the two story residence.

Within 20 minutes the fire was extinguished.

To compound matters firefighters encountered a swarm of bees on the backside of the residence and had to use foam to kill the hive.

Douglas Fire Chief Mario Novoa said smoke damage was suffered to the top part of the home and other fire officials said there was some water damage to the bottom part of the residence.

Contrary to other media reports the roof did not cave in and the home appears to be repairable.

The occupants of the home were not home at the time of the fire and the Red Cross has stepped in to assist the family with temporary living conditions.

 

Copyright © 2013 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    I want to know wrote on Jul 12, 2012 11:57 AM:

    " Why didn't the fire dept use the new million dollar fire truck to fight this fire? Are they afraid of breaking it? "

    Nora hagen harper wrote on Jul 12, 2012 9:43 AM:

    " thats the home i grew up in. my dad moved the whole family , 7 kids to douglas in 1967 remodeled that house ..it took many years. he worked for th city of douglas until he retired. the whole family was involved in The Salvation Army, and my oldest sister , Joy even worked for the dispatch for a short time. the family all left douglas after the unsolved death of my father John "

    wants to know wrote on Jul 11, 2012 2:39 PM:

    " It's a fire truck not a mind reader to know where lightning will strike!! "

    wants to know wrote on Jul 8, 2012 5:36 PM:

    " Where is the new million dollar fire truck? "

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