The smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air outside LifeStar Ambulance, 108 W. Decorah Road. Officials with LifeStar confirm the building was struck by lightning as storms moved through Washington County early Sunday morning. We Energies reported a number of power outages in the area. As of 2 p.m. there were still more than 300 people without service.
There are visible signs of fire damage at LifeStar as a window is boarded up, there are muddy tire tracks from the firetrucks and the garage doors are singed on top with debris lying beneath.
No word whether any vehicles were damaged however there are about seven vehicles sitting in the lot behind Yahr’s Mobil.
Looking around the outside of the building it’s difficult to see where the strike occurred as the single story structure has a metal roof and brick exterior. Peering through the window there is obvious soot staining the walls and the overhead lighting has been melted by the heat.
We’ll bring you more details on the fire as information becomes available.