Lightning strikes reported as cause of fires at Sterling, Somerville homes

STERLING, Mass. — A lightning strike was determined to be the cause of fires at houses in Sterling and Somerville, according to the towns' fire departments.

The fire in Sterling started in the garage of a Upper Row Road home, with some extension into the house.

Sterling Fire Chief David Hurlbut said the department was going with a lightning strike as the cause of the fire.

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Hurlbut said the homeowner reported hearing an explosion and seeing a flash before the fire broke out.

The fire has been knocked down.

Out in Somerville, cell phone video showed smoke pouring out of a top floor window, with flames impacting the multi-family apartment building on Cherry Street.

Firefighters say the fire began when lightning struck the roof, igniting a fire that quickly spread through the attic and upper floor.

Two people on the second floor saw and smelled smoke coming from the ceiling, and Somerville District Fire Chief Matt Wall says they immediately got out.

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They heard the lightning strike," Wall said. "We actually heard it at the station, and could tell it was pretty close. About two minutes after that, we got the report of a building fire."

Firefighters tell Boston 25 News three families lived in the building in Somerville.

Cox Media Group