RAVENA, NY - Lightning struck a house in Ravena and sparked a fire Tuesday night, June 29th, after a round of strong thunderstorms swept through the area.

Fire crews were dispatched to 85 Woodlawn Dr. in Ravena around 8:30 P.M. for reports of smoke coming from the chimney and flames coming from the roof of the home. Deputy Chief Kevin Phillips of Ravena Fire arrived on the scene and transmitted a Signal 30, indicating a working structure fire.

“Upon arrival I found heavy smoke coming from the roof area,” Phillips said. “It appeared that the homeowners were knocking the fire down with a garden hose.” He said the crew from Ravena Fire’s first arriving engine made a quick knock down of the fire within five to 10 minutes, making the damage minimal. The rest of the time was just checking for extension, pulling ceilings and cutting the roof up to make sure it didn’t travel anywhere else.

Ravena, Coeymans, Coeymans Hollow and New Baltimore Fire Departments were on the scene with Ravena Rescue, Albany County Paramedics, Coeymans Police and Albany County Sheriffs.

Phillips said the bulk of the damage was confined to the attic area and the two bedrooms below the attic area where the fire originated.

Several bricks were found scattered in the grass which were not knocked off by firefighters.

With the severe thunderstorms in the area at the time of the fire and the scattered bricks, the investigation determined the cause of the fire was a lightning strike to the area of the chimney on the roof of the home, according to Phillips.

There was one person inside the home at the time of the lightning strike and fire and was uninjured.

There were no injuries to anybody reported at the scene.