Lightning strike causes house fire Sunday

A lightning strike from the storm that went through Fairfield early Sunday morning set a family?s house on fire at 1010 Grand Park Drive.

A neighbor, Mike Griffin, said after hearing a very loud thunder, he got up to investigate, fearing lightning could have struck his house. He didn?t find anything wrong at his home, but he did smell smoke and spotted a problem at the Jon and Heidi Grunwald home, and promptly dialed 911.

After the call at 7:08 a.m., the Fairfield Fire Department arrived with three trucks and a crew of 15 to put out the blaze. They were on the scene until 10:45 a.m.

This morning, Heidi Grunwald said the family was away on vacation when they received a call at 7:30 a.m. Sunday telling them their house was on fire. They returned home to meet with their insurance representative today, but are planning to go finish their vacation.

?There no real fire damage,? Grunwald said, explaining the fire was confined to two bedrooms and the garage.

?We?ll have to replace the roof,? she added.

While Grunwald said she didn?t think her family needed any help from the community at this time, she did extend her family?s thanks to their neighbors and friends.

?They?ve been awesome to us,? she said.?

For the complete article and photo, see the Monday, July 19, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.