Lightning Suspected in 3 Fires Near Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Fire officials are investigating whether lightning is to blame for three fires near the Twin Cities area.

Brooklyn Park authorities say lightning sparked a fire in a home there at about 11 a.m. Saturday.

About a half-hour later, the St. Croix County sheriff's office received a call of a fire to a $1 million home in Troy Township, just south of Hudson, Wis.

Callers reporting the blaze to the nearby River Falls fire department stated that lightning had put a hole in the roof, with heavy smoke and flames pouring out.

According to Dakota County dispatch, a two-alarm fire was reported at about 4 p.m. in Apple Valley, but no additional information was immediately available.

No injuries were reported.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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