2 Dead After Lightning Causes House Fire In Blue Earth

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities say two people died Sunday morning in southern Minnesota after lightning struck a house and ignited a fire.

The Faribault County Sheriff's Office received a report of a house fire at about 4:47 a.m. on the 900 block of East 1st Street in Blue Earth. When authorities arrived, they found 39-year-old Rudy Carmona and 47-year-old Fidel Bello dead on the living room floor of the residence.

Fire crews on the scene determined that a fire may have started after a lightning strike on the northwest corner of the residence. Authorities said there were no functioning smoke detectors in the home.

The Faribault County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Blue Earth Police and Fire, the Winnebago Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal's Office at the scene.

Authorities say the fire is still under investigation at this time.