Lightning strike causes Rogers house fire

Firefighters were called to a house fire at 3:11 a.m. Monday at 2605 W. Dogwood St.

The upper floor was damaged but most of the lower floor was intact, said Tom Jenkins, Rogers fire chief.

Firefighters were alerted by a 911 call from a person on 25th Place who had let a dog out and see flames, but initially they thought it was a grassfire, Jenkins said. An officer with Rogers police called in the house fire a short time later.

The firefighters who initially arrived saw flames and smoke coming from the roof, according to fire reported. They called for backup, making it a two-alarm fire. Rogers has about six to eight multi-alarm fires a year, Jenkins said.

Firefighters spent three hours battling the fire and making sure no hot spots were left to re-ignite, Jenkins said. Before the fire was out there were more than 30 firefighters on scene, he said.

One firefighter had minor burns on his neck and shoulders from falling embers, but he was treated on scene and finished his shift, Jenkins said.

The cause of the fire was ruled a lightning strike. Neighbors told firefighters that they heard a close lighting strike at 10 p.m. and thought they smelled something burning at the time, but saw no flames. Lightning strike data from the National Weather Service indicated several strikes in the area about that time, Jenkins said.

No one was inside the home. It was vacant and for sale. Jenkins estimated damage to the house at $150,000.

An online real estate listing describes the house as three bedroom, three bath and lists it as $219,000. Property records indicate it was about 2,100-square-feet.

Upcoming Events