Investigators say a lightning strike caused a house fire on Border City Road in Waterloo last Wednesday night.
At around 9:40 p.m., the Seneca County 911 Center received a call reporting a residential structure fire at 55 Border City Rd in the Town of Waterloo. The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office responded along with the Border City Fire Department with mutual assistance from the Waterloo and Geneva Fire Departments.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered visible smoke from the roof and the second story of the residence. Firefighters checked for fire extension in the walls and ceiling at which time they were able to call the fire under control. The Seneca County Fire Investigation Team and The New York State Fire Investigation Team were notified and requested to respond to the scene for further investigation. The cause of the fire was deemed to be a lightning strike. No one was injured during the incident.
The Finger Lakes Railway was notified to stop any inbound trains coming through this area due to hose lines obstructing the railway and Border City Road was shut down at multiple nearby intersections for about two and a half hours while crews operated. There was heavy damage throughout the home due to the fire and the overhaul therefore Red Cross assistance was requested. The homeowners were able to secure their own reservations for the time being.
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