Newtown Firefighters Battle Blaze Set by Lightning Strike

NEWTOWN, CT — A lightning strike ignited a blaze in a home on Chestnut Hill Thursday evening.

All five companies of Newtown firefighters were dispatched to 29 Chestnut Hill Road at around 6:30 p.m. when a neighbor reported seeing smoke rising from the home.

The first responders inside the home discovered a fire in the basement which they were able to quickly extinguish. They later found a fire on the other side of a basement wall which was also put down quickly by crews who had to break down the wall from outside and from within. An inspection of the rest of the home followed, but no additional blazes were found.

Officials estimate the damage to the house from fire, smoke and water to be approximately $50,000.

The lower section of Chestnut Hill Road, between Berkshire and Chestnut Knoll, was closed to through traffic while firefighters were at the scene.