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Avondale home fire reportedly caused by lightning
A West Valley family is cleaning up, after their home caught fire after it was struck by lightning on the morning of Oct. 22. FOX 10's Steve Nielsen has more.
AVONDALE, Ariz. - A fire that sparked at a West Valley house early Wednesday morning is believed to have been caused by lightning.
"It's just a sad situation," said Monica Vargas. "I guess I never expected."
What we know:
The fire broke out just after 5 a.m. on Oct. 22 at a home near El Mirage and Lower Buckeye Roads. Vargas and her family didn't realize that lightning hit their house until they smelled smoke.
"I opened the attic, and it was all smoky," Vargas recounted. "It was just scary."
Dig deeper:
Vargas said while her husband called the fire department, she played the role of firefighter, albeit to no avail.
Ultimately, smoke filled the house as the roof burned, and the kitchen was in ruins.
Avondale Fire says the flames were quickly extinguished after crews arrived at the scene. No injuries were reported.
Fire crews also grabbed the ashes of Vargas' son, and her father-in-law's flag.
What's next:
Because of the damage the fire caused, the family who lives at the home was displaced. The department is assisting the family with temporary housing.
Vargas, meanwhile, said her family is figuring things out with insurance, and they hope to be able to return to their home soon.
Map of where the fire happened
The Source: The Avondale Fire Department