TOWNSEND – An apparent lightning strike sparked a house fire at about 10:00 am on June 10, drawing a multi-agency response from the Townsend Fire Department and Nicolet Fire District. When crews arrived, they found a single-family home with smoke and flames coming from the roof.

Firefighters spent nearly five hours extinguishing the blaze and conducting salvage and overhaul operations. Riverview’s ladder truck was used to access the peak of the roof after the structure was weakened by the fire, and crews continued monitoring hot spots and flareups until the scene was secure.

All residents and pets made it out safely, and no firefighter injuries were reported. Assisting at the scene were departments from Lakewood, Doty, Riverview, Mountain, and Crooked Lake, along with Lakewood-Townsend Ambulance and the Oconto County Sheriff’s Department.

Photo Credit: Riverview Volunteer Fire Department

Published on: Jun 10, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Updated on: Jun 10, 2026 at 5:44 pm