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Kids at sleepover flee fire from lightning strike; 2 NW metro homes destroyed

2 of the homes are total losses; among the rescued were children from a soccer group at a sleepover.

By Paul Walsh and

Karen Zamora

April 25, 2016 at 2:35AM

Fire and smoke dominated the view after homes were hit by lightning in this Otsego neighborhood. (Paul Walsh — Submitted photo/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Lightning struck and destroyed two homes and damaged another in a newer subdivision in the northwest Twin Cities shortly before sunrise Sunday, sending its occupants — including a group of kids at a sleepover — fleeing for their lives, a neighbor said.

The blazes broke out about 5:50 a.m. at homes in the 12300 block of 76th Way NE. in Otsego, said Joe Meinhardt, who lives across the street from the charred scene. He also was giving shelter to everyone who had to abandon the houses.

"We heard a crack at 10 to 6 [a.m.] of the thunder," Meinhardt said. "Next thing I know, the doorbell is ringing."

Meinhardt said it looked like the lightning "hit the three houses all at once and just jumped from house to house."

The home of Rich and Jessica Wade was particularly active Saturday night. The Wades were hosting a kids' soccer group for a sleepover.

"I grabbed all the kids," Meinhardt said, adding that no one in any of the burned homes was hurt. "Everybody got out safe. That's the important thing."

Thanks to the speedy response of firefighters and the morning rain, the last flames have long been doused, Meinhardt said.

The home of Keith and Chey Jones is no longer standing. Heavy equipment was brought in to knock down the walls as a safety measure, Meinhardt said.

Charred pieces of debris sprinkled the grass and sidewalk in front of the Joneses' home. Bikes, an ATV, a canoe, grill and tool chests were scattered on the lawn. All that remained standing was part of the home's entry.

"From the sounds of it," the Wades' home will suffer the same fate, Meinhardt said. "Rich and I walked through it."

A third home was less seriously damaged, Meinhardt said.

Albertville Fire Chief Eric Bullen, whose department handles some calls for Otsego, said, "On arrival, the rear of [one] house was fully involved [in flames]. Extremely high heat and winds caused a neighboring [house] to catch fire."

Bullen's department was assisted by fire personnel from St. Michael, Monticello and Elk River.

Neighbors already have begun online fundraising for the families who lost their homes: gofundme.com/2v8qtc59 andgofundme.com/246qqz8c. The Red Cross said it's assisting two adults and one child in one home, and two adults and three children in another.

On the other side of Otsego barely a year ago amid hot weather and strong winds, four homes in a development caught fire. Two were still under construction at the time. No one was hurt in those blazes either.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

Very little remained of this home that was struck by lightning in Otsego. (Paul Walsh — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Very little of this home in Otsego was left after being struck by lightning. (Paul Walsh/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Very little of this home in Otsego was left after being struck by lightning. (Paul Walsh — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The aftermath of fire ignited by lightning in Otsego. (Paul Walsh — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Fire destroyed two homes in a block in Otsego and damaged another. (Paul Walsh — Submitted photo/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The cause of the fires appeared to be lightning, which a neighbor said seemed to hit all three homes at once Sunday morning. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)