Valley Hill Fire Rescue

HENDERSON COUNTY – A lightning strike may have sparked a fire that destroyed a Laurel Park home on a cold and wet, foggy Wednesday morning, said Valley Hill Fire and Rescue Chief Tim Garren.

Fire crews arrived at 106 Nimbus Lane shortly before 11 a.m. to find that much of the roof had collapsed. The owner, Vicki Aubuchon, said no one was home at the time, but fire officials said two dogs and two cats perished in the blaze.

Smoke from the fire would have been visible for miles on a clear day, Garren said, but the fire went unnoticed for several minutes because of the low clouds.

While tracking an outage Wednesday morning on Tower Road, two Morris Broadband technicians saw flames shooting several feet into the air as smoke disappeared into the dense fog.

“We pulled right up on it,” said Brian Killough.

He and technician Tom O’Leary called 911 and banged on the door and windows to see if anyone was inside.

“We didn’t hear anyone,” Killough said. “We didn’t want to go in, but if we heard someone we would’ve.”

Killough and O’Leary said they saw lightning strikes in the area moments before they came upon the fire.

PRIMARY AGENCY: Valley Hill Fire Rescue


INCIDENT TYPE: Working Fire