Sunday's

severe thunder and lightning storm is being blamed for a

fire that destroyed nearly 50 percent of one of Senoia's

older homes.

Coweta

County assistant fire chief Bill Haynes said the

department responded to the call at Elizabeth

Bedenbaugh's residence at 460 Pylant St. about 10:30

Sunday night.

When

officials arrived on the scene, they saw the back of the

house burning and immediately went to work to stop the

fire from spreading.

Haynes said

a lightning strike hit the house and set the panel box on

fire. Crews from stations 10 in Senoia, 15 on Gordon Road

and three in Turin responded to the blaze and got the

fire under control.

He said the

damage was extensive to the back of the house, including

the kitchen, but said the department was able to save

some antiques from the house.

Crews

stayed on the scene until early Monday morning to make

sure the house did not reignite and said the home was at

least 50 percent damaged.

During

Monday night's council meeting, Mayor Joan Trammel

informed the residents of the town of the early morning

tragedy and commended the city's Police Department for

aiding the Fire Department in trying to save the home.

There were

no injuries from the fire.