File Photo – Woodstock Fire/Rescue District | Photo: WFRD

Fire officials believe lightning strikes caused an attic fire at a Prairie Grove home late Saturday evening and a natural gas line fire in Woodstock Sunday morning.

The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District responded at 11:39 p.m. Saturday to the 3700 block of Thunderbird Lane in Prairie Grove for a report of a house struck by lightning.

Alex Vucha, the communication specialist for both the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District and Woodstock Fire/Rescue District, said that firefighters arrived within nine minutes.

They initially found no hazards visible from the outside of the two-story home.

Firefighters investigated further and found a small fire in the home’s attic space, which is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, Vucha said.

“Out of an abundance of caution, firefighters performed minor overhaul and opened the roof to check for additional fire extension throughout the attic,” Vucha said.

One resident was inside the house at the time of the incident and safely escaped without injury.

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The house is uninhabitable until repairs can be made, Vucha said.

A damage estimate was not immediately available.

Later, at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the 10500 block of Bull Valley Drive in Woodstock for a report of a residential natural gas line on fire.

Firefighters arrived within minutes and found a small natural gas-fed fire near the base of a tree in the front yard of a home, Vucha said.

“It’s believed the tree was struck by lightning and ruptured the adjacent natural gas line, sparking a fire,” Vucha said.

Nicor Gas responded to the scene to repair the gas line.

Strong storms swept through the Chicagoland area during both incidents, bringing lightning and thunder.