Lightning strikes townhouse on north side of Arlington Heights

A lightning strike caused $10,000 in damage to a townhouse on the north side of Arlington Heights as a strong line of thunderstorms moved through the area Friday, authorities said.

Fire department investigators believe the lightning may have hit an antenna or cable satellite on top of the four-unit townhouse building on the 1600 block of West Hawkes Street, then traveled along a cable line to the interior of the building. That's where firefighters found some drywall and insulation damaged in an attic and common hallway on the building's second floor, according to Battalion Chief John Carpenter.

Firefighters saw smoke when they got to the building just after 11 a.m., but once inside, they found the small fire already self-extinguished, Carpenter said.

Fire crews investigated to make sure there were no hot spots and that the fire had not extended to other parts of the building, he said.

No individual units were damaged, and no injuries were reported.