Lightning strike might've caused natural gas fires in southern Indiana, officials say

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A lightning strike from Friday night's storms in southern Indiana might've caused two natural gas fires, according to the Highlander Fire Protection District.

In a news release, spokesman Ryan Houchen said the Highlander Fire Protection District received a call about a natural gas leak on fire at 2050 Fairway Drive in Floyd Knobs, Indiana.

A crew found the natural gas fire "blazing out of the ground at the address." Then the captain saw smoke coming from a home across the street.

He alerted the homeowner and helped evacuate the home. A fire was found to have started in the basement ceiling where a natural gas line had ruptured and caught fire.

The fire also spread to the first floor of the house and as crews were dealing with that, other fire fighters were still taking care of the natural gas fire across the street.

The fire was stopped by isolating the larger natural gas supply line.

The cause of the structure and natural gas fires remain under investigation but officials believe it might've been caused by a lightning strike from the early morning thunderstorms.