Fire caused by lightning BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer SAYREVILLE - A lightning bolt led to a structure fire in the borough last week. The detached single-car garage of a residence on Coolidge Avenue was struck by lightening at 4:24 p.m. Aug. 17. Multiple fire units responded to extinguish flames in the garage of the home, which faces Garfield Avenue. Police directed traffic as the fire was extinguished in approximately 10 minutes. The flames did not spread to the single-family home. A 29-year-old Sayreville firefighter sustained a back injury during the incident. The Sayreville Emergency Squad examined Lt. Nicholas D'Amore, who is a member of the Presidents Park Fire Company. He was transported to Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy, where he was later released. Fire Marshal Kevin Krushinski, who is station commander of the Presidents Park Fire Company, investigated the scene, which was cleared upon his departure, according to police. "It was not a total loss," Krushinski said. "There was moderate damage to the structural support of the roof inside of the garage." The fire appeared to have been caused by a lightening strike, Krushinski said. "A neighbor heard the thunder and lightening, then the crackle and looked and saw smoke coming from the detached garage," Krushinski said. "There was a fire burning inside of the garage." There were a number of combustibles in the garage, including fertilizer and gasoline, which kept the fire spreading. However, there were no utilities in the garage and the homeowner was not inside the garage. "It is not suspicious," Krushinski said. "It was natural causes. I would put it as an act of God."