COLUMBUS – Fire officials are investigating an early morning residential fire in Columbus that they believe was likely ignited by lightning.
The Columbus Fire Department received a call reporting a fire at a residence in the 4400 block of Princeton Park Drive just before 2:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke emanating from the roof of the two-story home. Crews quickly made their way to a second-floor bedroom and located the primary source of the fire within the attic space. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control swiftly.
The homeowners informed authorities that they and their six children were asleep when suddenly awakened by a loud noise. Shortly after, the husband and wife noticed smoke seeping from an air conditioning vent on their bedroom ceiling. The parents acted quickly, evacuating all six children from the home before contacting emergency services.
According to fire crews, the flames’ damage was primarily contained to the home’s attic. However, the residence also sustained water damage on both the first and second floors due to the firefighting efforts.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the fire. The Columbus Fire Department is investigating the incident to determine the cause officially. The preliminary assessment strongly suggests that a lightning strike was the likely culprit.
