Updated: Two Structure Fires

This morning Firefighters were called to two area fires during Friday’s thunderstorm, with lightning being the likely cause of both.

A call was received around 10:15 a.m. southwest of Bemidji near Becida in Fern Township where the Fern Town Hall was reportedly engulfed in flames. The turn of the 20^th century town hall has sustained extensive damage.

The Bemidji Fire Department also responded to a report of a barn fire in Liberty Township, northwest of Bemidji on Highway 89 and Grange Road. The structure was fully engulfed in flames when both Bemidji and Solway Fire Departments arrived.

Both fires are now under control and crews are still on the scene to put out any hot spots.

Both fires are still under investigation, but are both likely linked to lightning strikes from today’s severe weather.