A lightning strike caused a structure fire in a New Canaan home Tuesday afternoon, officials said, doing extensive damage to its kitchen and floor.
Fire at Nubel Lane, July 18, 2023. Photo courtesy of NCFD
New Canaan firefighters responded to the Nubel Lane fire at about 2 p.m. after lightning struck a mature oak tree in the back yard, according to Fire Marshal Paul Payne.
“The tree is in close proximity to a buried copper gas line to a gas grill,” Payne told NewCanaanite.com in an email. “The area of origin for this fire was in the basement where this gas line entered the dwelling. Basement ceiling/ kitchen floor above. Damage to the kitchen floor in that area was extensive. Thankfully nobody was hurt.”
Fire at Nubel Lane, July 18, 2023. Photo courtesy of NCFD
An occupant of the house realized that a fire started following the lightning strike, Fire Chief Albe Bassett said. The floor joists below the kitchen area caught fire, and it extended up into the kitchen itself, he said.
The rest of the house suffered minor smoke damage and minimal water damage, Bassett said.
The New Canaan Fire Department received mutual aid from Westport, Wilton, Norwalk, Stamford, and Vista, N.Y., he said.
The home in question is a 2001-built wood-frame house, tax records show.