UNION, Maine — A lightning strike ignited a fire here Sunday afternoon that destroyed a residential garage.
There were no injuries from the fire that was reported to the Union Fire Department shortly after 5:30 p.m.
Union Fire Chief Kevin Soule said that the lightning bolt struck a tree behind the garage and it started a fire in the garage next to the home of Paul and Diane Holmes on the South Union Road. The residents were home at the time of the strike but were not injured.
A passerby noticed the fire. When the first crew arrived, the garage was engulfed in flames, Soule said. The crews had the fire under control within 40 to 45 minutes, the chief said.
The house, located about 20 feet from the garage, was not damaged, he said. The garage had a variety of items in it, including two motorcycles. The contents of the garage were destroyed.
The homeowners are insured, he said.
Crews from Warren, Appleton, Washington and Waldoboro also responded to the fire. The final Union firefighters left the scene at about 8 p.m.