JOHNSONBURG –– A lightning strike caused a fire that destroyed a home early Friday morning at 322 Willow St.

Johnsonburg Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob Dickey said a neighbor informed resident Linda Boulais, 68, of the fire, and she escaped from the home safely around 2:40 a.m. A dog also managed to flee the house, but two cats remain missing.

Upon arriving on scene, the firefighters found the house’s second floor fully involved in flames. Dickey said the fire burned off the roof and attic area, the second floor was destroyed and the downstairs damaged by smoke and water.

A state police fire marshal investigated the blaze and reported that a power surge occurred, resulting in a lightning strike. The fire originated in the roof and attic area of the home, according to a report issued by state police.

The American Red Cross was called into help Boulais.

Firefighters were on scene for about three hours, Dickey said. Assisting at the scene was the Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department.