Lightning Likely Caused Elgin House Fire: Fire Officials

ELGIN, IL — Lightning may have caused a house fire in Elgin early Friday, fire officials said. The Elgin Fire Department responded to the blaze in the 600 block of North Porter Street just after 2 a.m. on Friday for a report of a possible structure fire, according to a news release from the Elgin Fire Department.

Fire crews first at the scene of the blaze found a two-story home with a fire burning through the roof and on most of the second floor, according to news release from the fire department. The fire was brought under control within 18 minutes after the fire department arrived at the scene but the home still suffered extensive damage to the second floor.

Initial damage estimates are in excess of $90,000, according to the fire department news release.

The home was unoccupied and being rehabbed at the time of the fire and no one was injured in the blaze. The home has been deemed uninhabitable and initial indications show the blaze may have been caused by lightening.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.