A lightning strike may be to blame for a house fire in Dowagiac. That, from fire investigators after the blaze that broke out on Monday, Sep. 3.

Crews were called around 9:10 pm. to the 200 block of Bradley Street to find the two-story home engulfed on three sides of the structure, according to the Dowagiac Fire Department.

The residents, who had just moved in a few days earlier, were not at home at the time of the fire.

Fire crews were faced with heavy fire conditions on the second floor as the flames spread to the attic areas.

It is likely the fire had started but gone unnoticed for a while before being spotted by neighbors as it finally vented out the windows.

It took about an hour to get the blaze under control.

It is possible the fire may have been started by a lightning strike as storms had moved through the area just a few hours earlier and neighbors reported a ‘nearby’ strike during the storm, but the official the cause of the blaze had not yet been determined.

There was no report of any injuries.