Lightning strike causes small fire at Watertown home

July 21, 2020

Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.—Watertown Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire caused by a lightning strike Monday night.

By the time firefighters arrived at 1335 16th Street Northeast, the homeowner extinguished the small fire using a fire extinguisher.

Lightning had struck a small tree in the backyard of the residence and the lightning’s current had followed something in the ground until it reached the house and the fire started on the insulation of a natural gas line.

The fire then caused the objects around it to start burning until it was extinguished by the homeowner.

The fire call came in at 6:44 Monday night.