Lightning strike sparks house fire in Savona

This is the first time Savona’s fire chief has ever heard of a lightning causing a house fire.

Chuck Colville, fire chief with the Savona Fire and Rescue, said crews responded to a house fire yesterday, Aug. 11, on Watson Drive West.

Witnesses told Colville they saw lightning strike the house and spark the fire. When firefighters arrived, there was flames showing out of the attic, he said. Crews managed to contain the blaze to the attic.

Severe storm warnings were in effect across the Interior yesterday.

In his 15 years with the fire department, this is the first time Colville has ever heard of lightning causing a house fire.

Two residents were home at the time and were standing on their deck and didn’t realize their house was on fire. They went back inside and a neighbour knocked on their door and told them the house was on fire, Colville said.

No one was injured and a cat was found after the fire was extinguished.

“I believe them that the lightning hit the house, it was kind of something you’d never think you’d see,” Colville said.

Firefighters responded to the blaze just before 5 p.m., Aug. 11. There were 12 firefighters on site with a rescue and pumper truck, he said.

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