Lightning starts fire at Perrysburg church

6/23/2010

Lightning struck the steeple of the Oak Bend Church on Eckel Junction Road in Perrysburg early Tuesday, police said.

At 3:47 a.m., a neighbor reported that lightning hit the church at 11275 Eckel Junction Rd., officers said.

Perrysburg fire crews arrived about four minutes later and reported small flames on the southeast side of the steeple. Firefighters were let in by a key holder and put out the flames within minutes.

"It really wasn't that big," Perrysburg Deputy Fire Chief Wade Johnson said. "It went out real quick."

Though a part of the steeple was burned, it is still attached to the church and there was no damage to the church's interior. Chief Johnson estimated the damage will cost a few thousand dollars to repair.

No one was injured.