Officials Say Lightning to Blame for Fire in Downtown Perry, Georgia

Business owners and volunteers in downtown Perry are cleaning up damage from a fire that officials say probably was ignited by lightning.

Perry Fire Chief Joel Gray says the blaze probably was sparked by lightning that struck the C. Synder Chapman Accounting Firm on June 14 when a storm passed through the middle Georgia city.

He says it took nearly three hours to bring the fire under control.

No injuries were reported.

Gray says the accounting firm was the only building to sustain fire damage. Smoke and water damage was reported next door at Carlton Interiors and smoke damage at Perry Book store.

Store owners were taking stock of their losses on Sunday afternoon.

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Information from: The Macon Telegraph,
http://www.macontelegraph.com