CECIL COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — A lightning strike that damaged gas tubing caused a basement fire at a home in Elkton on Saturday night, resulting in approximately $20,000 in damages, authorities reported.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal said the fire was reported at 9:12 p.m. July 18 at 17 Autumn Woods Drive in Cecil County.
The fire originated in the basement ceiling space and was discovered by the homeowner, Michael Orwig, who was awake in the basement at the time.
Officials said Orwig heard a cracking sound and then found fire in the ceiling space. He used two fire extinguishers and a garden hose to keep the fire in check until firefighters arrived.
Damage was estimated at $18,000 to the structure and $2,000 to contents, according to the fire marshal’s office.
Investigators listed the preliminary cause as failure of corrugated stainless steel tubing, or CSST, due to a lightning strike.
A smoke alarm was present but did not activate initially because the fire was in the ceiling space.
No injuries were reported.
No fire alarm or sprinkler system was present, and no arrests were reported.
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