Lightning Causes House Fire In Rosemount, No Injuries

MNNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities said nobody was hurt but a home in Rosemount suffered significant damage Friday morning after being hit by lightning.

Crews were called to the 13000 block of Pine Bend Trail just before 7 a.m. on a report of a house fire. Firefighters were able to put the fire out quickly as the family in the home escaped without injury.

The home suffered extensive damage as a result of the blaze, which was likely started by a lightning strike after thunderstorms came through the Twin Cities metro early Friday morning. The homeowner said lightning traveled through the walls of the home, jolting the family awake.

Joe Simones said he was on his living room couch getting ready for work when he heard the lightning hit, and thought it hit a tree behind the house.

"My wife came out about a minute later screaming saying that the bedroom was on fire," Simones said. "I ran to the closet and got a bucket of water, ran into the bedroom and put the house out. I saw the smoke and made sure everybody was OK."

Simones said he told his wife to call 911 while he put water on the fire, then got out of the house to wait for the fire department.

"I was laying in bed and I saw a big flash and then there was a big boom," said Amy Simones. "I saw sparks and ran out of the bedroom to get Joe. We got our 3-year-old up, got outside and called 911."