NAPERVILLE, Ill. — A relentless storm wreaked havoc in Naperville as a fallen tree sheared off a power line, sparking small fires inside a residence and inflicting $20,000 in damages.
According to Naperville Fire, it happened during pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, after a resident called believing their home was on fire after being struck by lightning around 4:34 a.m.
Firefighters responded to the scene to find a fallen tree had severed a power line, causing it to arc against the home’s aluminum siding. The ensuing electrical surge sparked several small fires within the walls, creating a daunting challenge for the firefighters tasked with containing the blaze. Their efforts were further hampered as they awaited the safe de-energizing of the power line at the pole.
Firefighters managed to wrestle the fire under control by 5:57 a.m. To ensure all lingering hot spots were extinguished, they stayed on-site for an additional 30 minutes.
The two residents inside the home managed to evacuate prior to firefighters arriving with no reports of injuries among rescuers responding to the scene.
