The cause of the fire that damaged the United Methodist Church District Office, 718 West First Street, on the afternoon of June 25, has been determined to be the result of a direct hit by lightening, according to Rushville Fire Investigator Mike Justice.
Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the fire that was reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. when a neighbor saw smoke and flames erupting from the vent area of the single story structure.
Prior to the report of the fire a strong storm cell that included strong winds, pea-sized hail, heavy rain and lightening passed through the area.
“A witness in the area at the time, toward the end of the storm, saw lightening strike the building on or around the west corner of the roof,” Justice said.
The investigation found that a hole roughly a foot in diameter was located on the northwest side of the roof of the building.
Justice said that plastic vents used to hold insulation back in the roof of the building to allow air flow in and out of the attic area caught fire and allowed the fire to spread to the peak of the roof.
The building sustained water damage to the kitchen, utility room and bathroom as well as minor smoke damage throughout.
There were no injuries reported as result of the fire that was contained to the attic area of the church office.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
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Lightening blamed for church office fire
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