MILFORD – Fire, blamed on a lightning strike, damaged the upper levels of what was the original Catholic Church in Milford Borough.  The house, at 501 James Street, now a private residence, sustained extensive damage to the third floor attic.  No serious injuries were reported. 

Milford’s First Assistant Chief Stanley Ciesielski says they believe lightning hit the metal roof between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., but the fire was not discovered until about 10, when smoke was seen coming from the roof.  Several alarms were sent, drawing fire companies from a 30-mile radius in three states.

Ciesielski said it is particularly difficult to get volunteers to respond to a day-time fire, but those who did respond were apparently able to confine the actual fire damage to the roof and attic, which still had small pockets of flame visible at 1:30 p.m.  Ciesielski expected it would take another two or three hours to douse any remaining hotspots hidden in the walls of the old wood frame structure, that had undergone several renovations. 

Another problem was that with all the water and smoke damage to lower levels, and not knowing how fire the fire had spread inside the walls and floors, firefighters could not safely use the floors or stairs and had to rely on manual and truck ladders.

James Street is in an area of very narrow residential streets, making it difficult for large fire trucks to get directly on site.  Several trucks parked on Broad Street, which was blocked off, west of 7th Street, for several hours.  Broad Street reopened shortly after 3:30 p.m.

Two families, reportedly the owners, and tenants, shared the house.  Only one person was in the house at the time.  All seven people living in it are safe, and are staying with neighbors. 

Still some flames six hours after the lightning strike	First Assistant Chief Stanley Ciesielski
Ladders were the only way to safely access the structure	Fire trucks from a wide area line up on Harford Street