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Crime & Safety

Large Fire Destroys Home; Lightning Likely Culprit [Updated]

A lightning strike is suspected of starting a large fire on Jane Chapman Drive in Wrightstown Township Saturday afternoon.

 

Saturday, 3:44 p.m.:

For more than two hours Saturday afternoon, firefighters from several local departments doused a home in the 100 block of Jane Chapman Drive in Wrightstown with water and foam.

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The million dollar home was destroyed by a “fast moving” fire that was likely started by lightning struck the structure at around 12:30 p.m., according to Chester Pogonowski, an official with the Lingohocken Fire Company.

No one was injured in the fire. The family that lives in the home was on vacation at the time of the blaze, Pogonowski said.

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The official cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials said.

A neighbor, who did not want his name published, told Patch he saw a lightning bolt hit the home and spotted smoke and flames coming from the roof area several minutes later. At the time of the first calls reporting the fire, heavy rain, thunder, lighting and small hail was reported in the Wrightstown area.

Pogonowski said the first arriving fire crews encountered flames shooting from the roof and attic area of the home and immediately went into service.

By 2 p.m., all three floors of the home appeared to be destroyed by fire. Crews on the ground and using ladder trucks were still working to quell hot spots.

The house, which sits in the recently built Chapman's Corner development, is not covered by public water lines, so firefighters drew water from a retaining pond in the development that was built to provide a water source for emergency crews.

Due to the high heat and humidity, extra medical and rehabilitation crews from Central Bucks Ambulance Squad, Tri-Hampton Rescue Squad and the Trevose Fire Company were called to the scene to provide relief from the heat for firefighters.

Firefighters from Northampton and Upper Makefield assisted Lingohocken crews fight the blaze.


Saturday, 2:47 p.m.:

Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames coming from the roof of a large home in the 100 block of Jane Chapman Drive in Wrightstown Saturday afternoon.

No injuries were reported in the fire, officials said. The homeowners are reportedly on their way home from vacation.

Neighbors reported seeing a lightning bolt hit the home at around 12:30 p.m. Just minutes later, heavy flames shot from the roof area.

 

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