text: Lightning strike might have caused fire at Manlius home | syracuse.com
  Lightning strike might have caused fire at Manlius home
  on June 19, 2010 at 10:58 PM, updated June 19, 2010 at 11:41 PM
  Manlius, NY -- Manlius firefighters fought a fire tonight in the eaves of a two-story home off of Route 92 in the town.
  While the investigators haven't made an official determination in the cause, a lightning strike on the home at 8328 Verbeck Drive may have started the fire hours before the alarm was called in, Manlius Fire Chief Paul Whorrall said.
  The family in the home began smelling smoke about 6:30 p.m., about the time a thunderstorm passed through the area, Whorrall said. Almost three hours later, fire was discovered in the eaves of the home and the family safely evacuated the house, Whorrall said.
  "It started on the outside and burned its way in," Whorrall said of the fire.
  The home is located on a cul-de-sac and there were many graduation parties on the street, Whorrall said. Parked cars lined both sides of the street, making it difficult to get fire equipment to the home, he said.