Apparent Lightning Strike Sparks Small Rooftop Fire in Godfrey

GODFREY — A lightning strike is believed to have caused a small rooftop fire at International Mulch on Tolle Lane on Monday, July 27, 2026, about an hour after multiple power lines went down in three locations after a storm hit with heavy winds, according to Ben Hamberg, assistant fire chief for the Godfrey Fire Protection District.

Hamberg said the fire at International Mulch was believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. He said there was a very small fire and “little smoke” when crews arrived, and that the fire was on the rooftop and “didn’t extend anywhere.”

The fire was extinguished quickly, Hamberg said.

Around the same period, multiple power lines were reported down “around the same time” in three different spots: Stamper, Pierce and North Alby, Hamberg said.

“For a few minutes, it was very busy,” Hamberg said. “As soon as we had those things cleaned up, we had the small fire on the roof of International Mulch.” Hamberg said a commercial box mutual aid response was used and the fire was extinguished in quick fashion.

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