A rural home east of Greensville in Hamilton was significantly damaged, after a lightning strike Thursday morning set the house on fire.
The blaze started just before 7 a.m. during an intense thunderstorm, when a lightning bolt hit a large one-storey home located at 484 Ofield Rd. North.
First responders say they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof.
All residents of the home were able to evacuate the burning building before firefighters arrived.
The incident was upgraded to a multiple alarm fire, which brought additional crews in from across the city.
Firefighters equipped with multiple hose lines had entered the building to suppress the flames, and an aerial ladder was used to allow them access to the roof.
David Cunliffe, the Fire Chief with the Hamilton Fire Department, said multiple tankers were used to shuttle water to the scene, because the house is located in a rural area.
“This has been a very stubborn attic/roof fire,” said Cunliffe.
Cunliffe told CHCH News that firefighters were still at the scene working to extinguish hot spots as of 2 p.m.
The fire chief said that the house has sustained significant damage, estimated to be in the neighbourhood of $1 million.
The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified to evaluate the potential dollar loss.
No one was reported injured at this time.
Highway 5 in Hamilton between Ofield Road North and Sydenham Road was closed for several hours Thursday.