Lightning Possible Cause of Fire at New York Condos

Authorities are trying to determine if a lightning strike from severe thunder storms sparked a fire that caused extensive damage to a suburban Buffalo condominium complex.

WGRZ-TV reports that firefighters arriving on the scene around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday found heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof of the Quaker Meadows condominiums in Orchard Park, south of Buffalo.

Heavy storms were moving through the region at the time. At one point, firefighters dousing the flames from ladders were ordered back to the ground because of lightning.

No one was injured.

Neighbors told the station they heard a loud boom and then saw flames coming from the structure.

The storms are blamed for knocking out power to about 9,000 utility customers from western New York to the Mohawk Valley. Most had power restored later Monday morning.