Lightning causes at least 3 house fires in northern Minnesota
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Authorities in northern Minnesota say lightning is suspected of causing at least three house fires on Monday and early Tuesday.
The latest fire destroyed a home early Tuesday morning on the Whiteface Reservoir in St. Louis County, south of Aurora.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said two people and two dogs in the home were able to escape before the building was fully engulfed in flames. One of the residents was evaluated by medical personnel, but there were no reports of injuries.
The home was a total loss.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
“A thunderstorm had moved through the area prior to” the fire, the sheriff’s office reported. “Occupants of the residence and neighbors reported hearing a very large boom before the fire. A lightning strike is being looked at as a possible contributing factor to the fire.”
Those storms late Monday and early Tuesday also brought winds of more than 60 mph to parts of northern Minnesota, downing trees and causing power outages.
On Monday morning, another round of storms in northwestern Minnesota led to two lightning-sparked fires at homes in East Grand Forks.
Fire officials said the fires were reported just minutes apart on opposite sides of the city, and caused significant damage to both homes. There were no reports of injuries.
