Overnight Fall Creek church fire likely caused by lightning strike

FALL CREEK, Wis. (WEAU) - The Fall Creek Area Fire District said a lightning strike is the likely culprit behind an overnight fire at St. James Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Fall Creek.

Crews were sent to the church at 2:51 a.m. Thursday and found the bell tower of the church on fire, according to a post on Facebook from the Fire District.

Damage was contained to the bell tower of the church. The Fire District said the preliminary cause is a lightning strike. Laurel Boyer, the church’s administrative assistant, said that she believes the steeple was hit by lightning, as storms were in the area at the time.

In a post on Facebook, the Church said it is moving a funeral service to a funeral home in Augusta due to minor smoke and water damage inside of the church. In another post, the Church is working on a plan for its Sunday services once damages are assessed.