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Lightning likely sparked fire
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Times photo: Brenda Steurer Numerous fire departments responded to a house fire early this morning on Haddinger Road. Damage to the home that is owned by Gordon and Mary Letheby was significant.
MONROE - Two people were taken to Monroe Clinic Hospital early Friday morning after a house fire at N525 Haddinger Road south of Monroe.

The home is owned by Gordon and Mary Letheby. They were taken to the hospital, according to Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch. Their condition was not being released as of press time.

At 1:15 a.m. Friday, the Monroe Fire Department arrived at the house and found a fire in the basement. Crews were able to knock down the fire within 30 minutes.

A family cat perished in the fire, which, Rausch said, appears to have started due to a lightning strike about 20 minutes before the fire was reported.

Damage to the home is significant; a dollar loss has not yet been determined.

Three firefighters were treated for minor injuries on scene by Green County EMS for burns suffered while battling the fire, which exceeded 1,000 degrees.

Numerous area departments assisted with the MABAS box alarm, which escalated to a second-alarm level. Most crews were released by 6 a.m., but crews from Monroe remained on the scene watching for flare ups and checking for hotspots.

- Times reporter Brian Gray

contributed to this story.