Three firefighters hurt while battling Lexington house fire

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- The Lexington Fire Department says that early morning lightning could be to blame for a house fire that broke out near Masterson Station Park. That fire sent three firefighters to the hospital.

14-year-veteran, Lieutenant Donovan Wilson, is being treated for burns to his back and neck, and firefighter James Adkins has back pain. A third firefighter, Levi Burgin is also being treated. The home’s roof reportedly collapsed on Adkins and Lieutenant Wilson.

Firefighters say just before 9 a.m., when they first got the call for the home on Rolling Ridge, they thought someone might still be inside. Battalion Chief Brad Whittaker says, as they looked around, the roof collapsed.

“There was still burning debris on one of the firefighters when he came out,” Battalion Chief Whittaker said.

The family who owns the home was too distressed to talk on camera, but relatives tell ABC 36 they were most concerned about their pets. One cat and a dog made it out safely, but their third animal, a cat named Figaro, was missing.

Neighbor Kyle Jennings says he understands why it is so upsetting because pets are like family.

“When they do, when something does happen to them, you get tore up,” Jennings said.

The home is destroyed. Now, fire investigators try to figure out why. The department says it did get lightning reports, and a call from the home next door where the homeowner says sparks flew out of electrical sockets.

“We don’t know at this time if that played any role in the ignition of this fire, but that is something we’re looking at,” Battalion Chief Whittaker said.

The good news, if any, to come out of all this is the lost cat, Figaro, was found safe. Firefighters say they found him hiding out in his favorite spot in a kitchen cabinet.