Lightning Causes House Fires In Monticello, Coon Rapids
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Lightning is blamed for several house fires in the Twin Cities Tuesday night.
The roof of a home on Mississippi Boulevard in Coon Rapids was struck, starting a fire in the attic.
Firefighters put the fire out before it spread into the home. Everyone inside the home got out safely.
Crews were still on the scene of another lightning-related house fire late Tuesday night in Monticello, which started just before 7 p.m.
The Wright County Sheriff's Office says several people had to be evacuated from their homes, and three townhouses were damaged in the fire.
WCCO spoke to Steve Christ, the owner of the Monticello home that had the most damage. He said he was across town helping clean up storm damage at his son's home, but his wife and daughter were in the townhouse and heard the lightning strike.
"Sounded like a concussion bomb, she said. And so when she came up, she observed the neighbor next door, [who is a] World War II vet. He knocked on the door and said there was a fire outside. Then she looked inside and saw the electrical box was on fire," Christ said.
It was because of that neighbor that Christ's wife and daughter were able to get out of the home safely.
The people living in the townhouses will have to find another place to stay Tuesday night -- but the good news is everyone did get out OK.