United States (North Carolina) - 60 firefighters from seven North Carolina fire departments worked late last night into early this morning to prevent an Apex residence from burning down. Fairview Fire Department Chief Ed Brinson said his station received a report of a large structural fire at a house on Gum Leaf Drive in Apex around 11:45 p.m. Upon arriving at the scene, he said the fire raged in the 3,000 sq. ft. building's attic and second floor.

Brinson's Fairview department teamed with firefighters from the Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina and Morrisville departments in fighting the blaze. He said 9 tankers and 11 engine companies helped contain the flames after an hour of fighting. The property has since returned to its owners, none of whom were injured being away from the house. No fire fighters were injured either.

Brinson declined to state the address of the house. He said the probable cause of the fire was a lightning strike.

Written by The News and Observer