Foresthill house fire may have been sparked by lightning strike
FORESTHILL — A house fire in the Placer County community of Foresthill on Wednesday may have been sparked by a lightning strike.
The Foresthill Fire Protection District said the scene was along Green Ridge Drive. Crews arrived to find the attic completely engulfed in flames.
"We are still investigating but what we're finding, yes, it was a potential lightning strike on the roof," Foresthill Fire Chief Dennis Martin said.
Cal Fire NEU personnel also responded to assist with the firefight.
CBS13's weather team recorded four separate lightning strikes in the area between 3:15 p.m. and 3:25 p.m., with one occurring on Green Ridge Drive at 3:18 p.m.
Neighbor Davis Smith described the moment after a lightning bolt struck a home fewer than 50 feet from his porch.
"It took out everything because it was so bright, and that thunder — like I said, I'm in a log home and it shook it," he said.
PG&E also responded quickly to shut off power to the neighborhood due to the fire's proximity to powerlines.
The homeowner was not home at the time of the fire. Several pets inside the home were able to make it out unharmed, but the home sustained severe damage.
"It's an extensive overhaul and it's going to be an extensive rebuild," Chief Martin said.
Smith said it was something he has never seen before.
"I've been in California thunderstorms all my life, this is one of the few that scared me."
Another storm system was moving through Northern California on Wednesday and brought rain, lightning, hail and heavy winds to various areas across the valley and foothills.