Weather may have caused house fires

The Dora Volunteer Fire Department recently responded to two weather-related house fires and a third house fire which may have started in a flooded basement. All three fires have occurred within the last three weeks.
The first fire occurred shortly before 4:30 a.m. Friday, April 15. According to a Dora VFD spokesperson, the residence had been struck by lightning, destroying the electrical box and igniting the floor supports under the kitchen.
The first truck to respond was able to quickly gain access and extinguish the fire. Fire damage was confined to the kitchen area.
The second weather-related fire was shortly after midnight the morning of April 22.
According to a spokesperson, the homeowner returned home and discovered the fire, which apparently started when either lightning or water entered an exterior electrical outlet and smoldered in the wall. When the homeowner opened the door, the oxygen caused the fire to immediately intensify.
The first truck responding extinguished the fire almost immediately, officials said.
The home was not destroyed but did sustain substantial smoke, heat and localized fire damage.
The third fire occurred April 26 at the residence of Lance Watkins on county road 190.
The cause of the April 26 fire has not been determined, but preliminary investigation suggests the fire started around an extension cord in a flooded basement.