By BEA LEWIS

Northern Lakes Region Bureau

MEREDITH — A fire sparked by a lightning strike damaged a local home but no injuries were reported.

Homeowners John and Susan Watkinson were inside their 25 Keyser Road home when a bolt hit near the chimney shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night.

"They said the whole house shook," Fire Chief Chuck Palm reported.

When he arrived just three minutes later the attic of the ranch-style home, which sits in a clearing atop a knoll, was ablaze. Firefighters gained access through a crawl space in the garage ceiling and were quickly able to knock down the fire, according to Palm, but not before one section of the roof had collapsed.

Because of the intense storm, firefighters were on duty at the downtown station at the time the Watkinsons called for help and a fire truck was at the home within five minutes.

Twenty-one volunteers responded to the scene, just off Route 25, and used water from a tanker truck to extinguish the fire. Firefighters quickly wrapped the majority of the homeowner’s belongings in tarps and plastic, protecting the bulk from water damage. Palm said the home suffered minimal smoke damage, but that water did cause one section of the kitchen ceiling to collapse.

The homeowners indicated that they are insured and would be staying with friends until repairs are made. Center Harbor provided coverage for the Meredith station.