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Crime & Safety

Hinsdale Attic Fire Causes $50,000 in Damage

Homeowner suspects lightning strike caused wooden beam to ignite.

An attic fire caused $50,000 in damage to a residence at 5835 S. Grant Avenue in Hinsdale on Friday morning.

Homeowner Mary Paul called 911 at 8 a.m. after smelling smoke coming from the home's attic; the Hinsdale fire department, along with six others, responded.

"After using the thermal energy camera, it was discovered that there was a fire in the concealed ceiling on the [home's] third floor," said Rick Ronovsky of the Hinsdale Fire Department.

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The fire appeared to be accidental, and Ronovsky said the fire department did not believe there was any suspicious activity involved.

Although an investigation is still being conducted to determine how the fire started, the home's owner, Mary Paul, said her house was struck by lightning around 2 a.m.

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"We didn't know the lightning struck the house [initially]," Paul said, "but it did knock out the breakers."

Paul believes lightning struck one of the wooden beams in the home's ceiling and spread through the attic.

Departments from Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Western Springs, Pleasantview and Oak Brook responded to the fire.

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