Lightning causes two house fires in LP
Lightning from morning thunderstorms sparked two house fires, nearly back to back, in Lake Park Wednesday morning.
According to Fire Chief Brandon Ehret, the first fire occurred at 8:14 a.m. in the 400-block of Avenue D East in a home occupied by LeAnn Hass. Firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the west side of the house above the garage when they arrived. The fire was extinguished and the home vented. The department also rescued numerous birds. Hass was not injured and had evacuated the home prior to the Fire Department's arrival.
While battling that fire, the fire department was paged to a fire in the 200-block of Avenue C West. The Spirit Lake Fire Department was dispatched to assist the LPFD. Upon arrival at that home, smoke was seen venting from around the eves and windows. Spirit Lake's ladder truck was used to help cut holes in the roof to vent smoke. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the kitchen and bedroom areas. The home's resident, Jean Turner, wasn't home at the time the fire broke out.
Twenty nine firefighters battled the two blazes with damage to both homes described as moderate.
The Lake Park Fire Department was assisted by the Spirit Lake Fire Department, Lake Park Police, Lake Park Ambulance and Dickinson County Emergency Management.