WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A fire that started in an Oak Street basement was caused by a “significant” storm that swept through the area early Tuesday morning, according to a news release from the Hartford Fire Department.
No one was injured in the blaze, which was called in at 4:17 a.m. Tuesday for a house at 85 Oak St. The homeowner told firefighters that smoke was coming out of her basement, and it may have been started by a lightning strike. Firefighters said she and another resident were alerted to the blaze by smoke alarms in their home.
Fire crews from Norwich, Hanover, Lebanon, Hartford and Hanover responded to the flames and got the fire under control around 5 a.m., the release said.
Some of the firefighters had to be diverted from another blaze they were fighting at the Connecticut Valley Auto Auction, which burned down Tuesday morning. That fire was also the result of “natural causes” during the storm, according to the fire department.
The two residents at the Oak Street home were uninjured and were displaced until the building is safe to re-occupy, according to the release. A cat was taken from the home but couldn’t be resuscitated, the release said.