Lightning fire rekindles

PROSPECT - A home gutted by fire early Wednesday rekindled in the afternoon. At about 12:50 p.m., units from five fire departments were called back to 5985 Hughes Road when the attic caught on fire. Chief Jeff Good of Battle Run Fire District said the flare-up was not major. Units were at the structure for about half an hour. The same units were not as lucky Wednesday morning, when a lightning strike sparked a fire that kept them on the scene for almost four hours. At 5:10 a.m., Battle Run Fire District responded to the house fire just north of Prospect. The residents were outside when firefighters arrived, and flames were showing through the roof, Good said. Firefighters believe the fire started when a lightning bolt struck the metal chimney. The strike awakened residents. It took almost 30 firefighters 90 minutes to control the flames. The house and contents were a total loss. Good said one firefighter was released from Marion General Hospital after treatment for a minor injury. The family has insurance, and did not request American Red Cross assistance, Good said. Units from Pleasant Township, Fort Morrow, Green Camp and Radnor assisted.