Lightning strike blamed for Beloit fire

By STEVE BENTON ( Contact ) Friday, May 30, 2008

Podcast Episode

WCLO's Steve Benton reports on an apartment fire in Beloit

BELOIT — Beloit fire officials say there were no injuries reported in a fire Friday morning, and they're crediting two women with getting everyone out of the building.

Public Information Officer for the Beloit Fire Department, Jeremy Flanagan, says Amanda Montero and Luis Casique-Flores, saw smoke on the roof of the eight unit apartment building at 1956 Colony Court during a storm. They pulled the fire alarm in their building, and then went next door to knock on doors.

Flanagan says the fire was caused by a lightning strike which hit a roof vent. The electrical surge then reportedly followed some wires into the building causing a short.

The building is valued at $524,000 and damage is estimated at $275,000.

Flanagan says most of the apartments are not habitable and the red cross is helping displaced residents find alternative housing until repairs can be made.

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