Lightning strike sparks Lombard house fire

LOMBARD – An apparent lightning strike stemming from severe weather that moved across the area Monday night sparked a fire that caused about $100,000 to a Lombard home.

"We have investigators at the house right now, but it looks to be very evident that lightning struck the front of the house and possibly the rear of the house," Lombard Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Howell said.

The Lombard Fire Department was dispatched at 10:36 p.m. Monday for an "inside smoke investigation" at a home in the 1100 block of East Adams Street. Responding firefighters reported a fire in the rear of the residence extending up the inside walls and the first-floor ceiling, Howell said.

All residents were safely evacuated from the home and no injuries were reported, Howell said.

The fire was elevated to a general alarm, bringing assistance from the Villa Park, Elmhurst and Downers Grove fire departments, as well as the Glenside, Carol Stream, Addison and York Center fire protection districts.

The fire appears to be related to a lightning strike that left heavy physical damage to the home and nearby trees, Howell said.

"We have it verified that the owner, who minutes before the strike was out in the front yard near a large tree," Howell said. "Today that tree shows signs of burning and a large hole in the ground."

A pair of severe thunderstorms swept through the western suburbs Monday night, causing damage with winds reported in excess of 80 mph.

A few downed trees and pockets of street flooding were the only issues reported to the Lombard Public Works Department, director Carl Goldsmith said Tuesday morning.

"All of the issues have been resolved," Goldsmith said. "We were fortunate."

Northern Illinois University meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said that the cold air from the strong winds of the storm blew ahead of the storm itself, tempering the storm as it moved into Illinois.

Wednesday temperatures will barely hit 70 and Thursday they should hover around 77, Sebenste said.

“The Fourth of July looks absolutely beautiful,” Sebenste said.