Lightning strike sparks fire in Mendota Heights home attic, no injuries reported
MENDOTA HEIGHTS - Around 1:37 AM on Tuesday, July 26, 2023, the Mendota Fire Department and South Metro Fire Department were dispatched to a home in the 1300 block of Knollwood Lane in Mendota Heights, Minnesota for a possible structure fire. According to the Dakota County Dispatch, the caller reported seeing smoke coming from the roof outside the home and they were also reporting smelling smoke from inside the home following a lightning strike that occurred near the home. No flames were visible, but the occupants of the home evacuated the residence. Around 1:43 AM, the police arrived on the scene and reported a large amount of smoke within the structure. The first fire unit arrived at the scene soon after the update from the police and confirmed seeing smoke coming from the front of the home. As crews prepared to fight the fire, very heavy rain was falling as a cluster of storms was actively working through the Twin Cities area.
According to the Mendota Heights Fire Department Chief Dave Dreelan, the cause of the fire was likely due to a lightning strike as fire crews battle the first alarm attic fire at the residence in the 1300 block of Knollwood Lane. Fire Chief Dreelan also confirmed that there were no injuries to report from the incident to either residents of the home or firefighters.
Fire crews remained on the scene for a few hours checking for hot spots in the attack with the scene officially being terminated around 4:34 AM.
