Fire from lightning strike destroys farmhouse
Staff writer
A farmhouse at 2267 Clover Rd. was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning after apparently being struck by lightning.
The 1,458 square foot house, appraised at $73,000, was owned by Brenda Soyez, who operates Country Dreams Bed and Breakfast at 2309 Clover Rd.
Marion, Hillsboro, Lincolnville, Lost Springs, and Herington fire departments all responded to battle the fire and spent more than 7½ hours at the scene.
A sheriff’s deputy was first to arrive at 5:19 a.m. and reported smoke coming from the roof but no flames.
Two minutes later, Marion Fire Chief Chris Killough arrived and reported smoke coming from eaves.
Killough reported nine minutes later that the house was producing much smoke and had a possible fire in basement.
The first fire engine, from Marion, arrived at 5:33 a.m. A Hillsboro engine arrived at 5:36 a.m. along with tankers from Marion, Hillsboro, and Lincolnville.
A north/south roof and an east/west roof on the house both sloped sharply after the flames were put out. Most firefighters were released from the scene at 12:30 p.m.
Killough said information on the fire would have to come from the Kansas Fire Marshal’s office because neither local fire marshal Chris Mercer nor Sheriff Jeff Soyez, who is related to the owner of the house, wanted to speak.
Lance Feyh, public information manager for Kansas Fire Marshal’s office, said he did not have information on the fire.