Lightning strike fire destroys BRF area home - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wisconsin (WXOW) - A lightning strike sets a fire that destroys a Black River Falls area home Friday morning.

Black River Falls Fire Chief Steve Schreiber says they were called out twice to the Watersedge Road area.  Nothing was found the first time at around 430am.  The storms that came through around that time is believed to have set off the alarm.

The second time was shortly after 6am when a nearby resident reporting smoke and flames above the tree tops.

When firefighters arrived, Chief Schreiber says the 1.5 story log home was fully engulfed.  The pictures sent to WXOW by Chief Schreiber capture the destruction of the home.

The home and everything inside was a total loss.  Chief Schreiber states the estimated cost of the damage is more than $210,000.

The owners, Daniel and Rebecca Deetz of La Crosse, used the home as a cabin.  They were not there at the time of the fire.

Assistance was given by the Merrillan and Hatfield Fire Departments.