Local

Family says lightning sparked Maitland house fire

MAITLAND, Fla. — A Maitland family believes that one of the thousands of lightning strikes across central Florida Friday afternoon struck its house.

Maitland firefighters and Orange County Fire Rescue responded to reports of thick black smoke coming from the roof of the house on Magnolia Road.

Homeowners told Channel 9's Kenneth Craig that they were inside their house when they heard a loud crashing sound.

The family ran outside and saw a hole in the roof of its house with smoke pouring out.

Firefighters were able to knock the fire out quickly.

Family members said they have lived in the home for 30 years and are happy the damage wasn't more serious.

"It's just a house, that's all it is. We're here, we're outside the house, it's just a house," said one of the residents.

The fire marshal was at the house late Friday afternoon to determine if it was a lightning strike that caused the fire.