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Lightning fire destroys $1 million Parkersburg house

Parkersburg News and Sentinel photo by Jeff Baughan A Parkersburg Fire Department tower knocks down a portion of the roof at 34 Wyndemere Drive Tuesday.
Parkersburg News and Sentinel photo by Jeff Baughan
A Parkersburg Fire Department tower knocks down a portion of the roof at 34 Wyndemere Drive Tuesday.

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. – Lightning is responsible for the fire that destroyed a house at 34 Wyndemere Drive on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

The National Weather Service in Charleston confirmed a lightning strike in the area shortly before the fire was reported, said Capt. Tim Flinn of the Parkersburg Fire Department.

Calls about a fire were reported to the 911 Center at 4:52 p.m. Tuesday, said Parkersburg Fire Department Chief Eric Taylor. The fire was declared under control at 6:19 p.m., Taylor said.

No one was injured in the fire, although the house was destroyed and collapsed in stages during the fire, Taylor said.

When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke could be seen from Murdoch Avenue, Taylor said. Flames were visible upon firefighters arrival, he said.

The fire began at the front peak of the house after lightning struck the structure, Taylor said.

John Migliore, owner of the home, said he was home alone when the fire began, Taylor said.

Migliore declined to make any comment about the fire on Tuesday afternoon.

Migliore told firefighters he heard loud thunder and suspected lightning had struck close by, Taylor said. He reported that his electricity was out, so he went to the basement to flip the breaker back on, Taylor said.

The alarm systems on the home were said to have “went crazy” when the power was restored, Taylor said. This was when Migliore realized the home was on fire, Taylor said.

The alarm company reported the fire, Taylor said.

Neighbors reported they had called 911 on their neighbor’s behalf.

The home was estimated at 6,000 square feet, Taylor said. The damage was estimated at $1 million…

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