Lightning Starts House Fire, Causes $25K in Damage

According to St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue, lightning from the heavy thunderstorms Monday night started a fire in a home at 1338 Monticello Blvd. 

Lighting, investigators said, struck the home and started a fire in the attic. 

The first arriving units Tuesday morning reported a two-story home had heavy smoke conditions showing from the second floor.

Firefighters, according to the incident report, went in for a fast attack and primary search for possible victims. Firefighters pulled the ceiling to attack the fire in the attic and saved the rest of the house from being destroyed

The homeowners were home at the time of the fire, smelled smoke and called 911. Primary and secondary searches found no victims, authorities said.

The homeowner, 85-year-old William Wallace, said he was looking into the back yard and thought that fog was rolling in. During further investigation, Wallace discovered that the attic was on fire.

Both he and his wife escaped unharmed and are staying with family.