Lightning starts fire in yard of Elgin-area home

A bolt of lightning that struck a gas line Tuesday started a fire in the yard of home in an unincorporated area near Elgin, fire officials say.

The small fire started on the 500 block of Arrowmaker Pass near Bowes Road at 5:15 p.m. and did not spread from the yard, South Elgin Fire Capt. Matt Starr said.

Nicor was called to shut off the gas line, Starr said.

Suzanne Shiloh, who was in her home across the street, said a loud boom shook the ground just before she saw flames in her neighbor's yard.

"The lightning hit, and we were in our house and the neighbor was just in his driveway, and it sounded like a sonic boom," Shiloh said.

Shiloh ran across the street to warn her neighbors about the flames in their yard, she said.

Elgin firefighters remained at the home for about an hour, while workers dug a hole to turn off the gas, Elgin Fire Capt. Anthony Bialek said.

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