A suspected lightning strike caused an estimated $40,000 in damage to a Jerome Township home on Avalon Lane shortly after midnight on Aug. 11, sending multiple fire departments to the scene, including Dublin's Washington Township Fire Department.
The fire is the first confirmed structure fire from the Aug. 10-11 storm system reported in the Dublin area.
Someone inside the home reported smelling something burning, according to a Marysville Matters newsletter published Aug. 13. Arriving crews found light smoke coming from the roof and called for a working fire response.
Firefighters located a small, smoldering fire in the attic and quickly extinguished it. Crews then performed salvage and overhaul work to confirm the fire had not spread.
No one was injured.
Jerome Township Interim Fire Chief Justin French estimated damage at $40,000. The cause remains under investigation, though officials believe lightning sparked the blaze.
Five departments and Delaware County EMS assisted Jerome Township's fire division: Pleasant Valley Joint Fire District, Marysville Division of Fire, Concord Township Fire Department, Washington Township Fire Department and Delaware County EMS. French credited dispatchers at the Union County Sheriff's Office 911 Center for coordinating the response.
