Lightning strike blamed for Shorewood duplex fire

SHOREWOOD -- We were all hoping for some rain, but two Shorewood families weren't expecting what they got from Mother Nature Wednesday night, July 18th. North Shore Fire Department officials believe lightning struck their duplex near Murray Ave. and Menlo Blvd., sparking a fire.

Authorities say they received a call around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found smoke coming from the roof.  Neighbors reportedly heard a loud crash prior to the blaze.

"We heard a big bang and then all of a sudden my wife happened to look outside the window and it was just a big ball of fire that she saw," neighbor Alberto Balistreri said.

Multiple departments were called to help battle the blaze that spread to the third floor.  Two ladder trucks were needed to extinguish the blaze.

"The fire was in a concealed space between the attic and roof, so once it broke through, we had to use aerial ladders with master sweeps to get the fire out," Battalion Chief Steve Brennan said.

Two firefighters were treated and released from the hospital for minor injuries. The six people who lived inside the duplex were able to escape without harm.

"Smoke detectors did go off to give them initial warning and they were able to exit safely," Brennan said.

This isn't the first time the building has gone up in flames. In 2001, an electrical fire caused extensive damage to the building.

"There was bad wiring in the house.  Those were not pleasant memories," Jim O'Brien, the owner at the time, told FOX6 News.

Now more than a decade later, another fire damaged the building as a result of Wednesday night's storms.

"Different circumstances, of course, but another big, big fire.  It was just a shame to see the flames coming out of the roof again.  It just kind of sickened us," neighbor Jim Bartose said.

The tenants and current owner of the building returned to the scene Thursday morning, carrying out whatever belongings that were spared.  They told FOX6 News they can't believe the mess Mother Nature left behind.

Officials say the three-story duplex sustained extensive fire, smoke and water damage. Authorities say the damage is estimated at $300,000.