No injuries as CFD fights 3 fires in 16 hours

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) responded to three residential fires within 16 hours from Sunday evening into Monday afternoon. One was due to lightning during a Sunday night thunderstorm. No injuries were reported, but two pets perished in one of the fires. 

On Sunday, March 22, at 7:40 p.m., firefighters were called to 4479 Ashworth Court for a garage fire. They found smoke coming from an attached garage and a neighbor spraying water from a garden hose into the partially opened garage. After CFD determined the home's interior was free of smoke or flames, crews entered the garage and extinguished the fire. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the incident. Fire damage was isolated to the garage and its contents.    

Later Sunday, at 10:25 p.m., CFD was called to 1607 Canyon Oak Lane after a resident reported a possible lightning strike to the home. When firefighters arrived, they reported flames visible from the gable ends. Crews entered the home and headed toward the attic, where they found the blaze and quickly extinguished it. Heavy fire damage was visible in the roof truss system. Investigators believe the home was struck directly by lightning. Due to the damage to the structure, the home is untenable.    

On Monday, March 23, at 12:15 p.m., CFD responded to 2671 Doup Drive when a passerby reported smoke coming from a residence. After confirming that no one was inside, firefighters located the fire in a bedroom. It was extinguished within minutes. Two cats were found deceased. The homeowner was at work at the time of the blaze. The cause remains under investigation. The home was significantly damaged and uninhabitable. The American Red Cross was asked to provide disaster services for the homeowner.