Lightning strike damages Buffalo Grove home

Lightning stuck outside a Buffalo Grove home early Monday afternoon, shattering windows, buckling its garage door and burning insulation and electrical wiring, fire officials said.

Buffalo Grove Fire Department crews responding at 12:18 p.m. to the home 2000 Wright Blvd. found visible damage to the exterior, as well as to a tree and other landscaping. The house had been evacuated and there were no injuries, officials said.

Firefighters entered the home and found heavy smoke in the attached garage. There was no open fire, but firefighters using a thermal imaging camera found a large amount of heat behind a wall. The walls were removed, and smoldering insulation and burned electrical wiring were found. The smoldering material was extinguished.

A further search of the building found one other electrical outlet that showed evidence of heat damage but no other significant damage was found, officials said. The situation was under control within 20 minutes.

Investigators believe lightning initially struck the base of a tree, then the energy from the lightning traveled through the ground and into the house, possibly via wiring for an outdoor lighting system.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department was assisted at the scene by crews from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, the Long Grove Fire Protection District, and the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District.

No damage estimate was available Monday.