Fire blamed on lightning strike

By DAILY SUN STAFF

THE VILLAGES — The state fire marshal has ruled that a fire Friday night that damaged a cottage near Lake Sumter Landing was caused by a lightning strike, according to District Public Safety Capt. Edmund Cain.

The blaze, which destroyed the bedroom and living room of the cottage and caused excessive smoke and heat damage to the rest of the building, was reported shortly after 10 p.m. Friday. The two occupants of the cottage weren’t there at the time and no one was injured.