A fire possibly caused by a lightning strike badly damaged a Hernando home Sunday evening, authorities said.
Around 6 p.m., firefighters responded to 5081 N. Dewey Way and found heavy smoke showing from the roof of a single-story, 2,100-square-foot home. The residents were not home, but crews rescued three dogs and a cat, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office said.
Units from Citrus Springs, Inverness, Beverly Hills, Kensington, Hernando and Connell Heights quickly extinguished the fire. Still, damages to the home and its contents were estimated at $172,750.
The fire was ruled an accident as a result of a possible lightning strike, authorities said.