Lightning blamed for Gainesville fire

GAINESVILLE - The fire at the Gainesville home of a honeymooning couple early Wednesday appears to have been caused by lightning.

Gainesville Fire Marshal Jerome Yarbrough says the house, at 220 North Avenue, will probably be declared a total loss because the "whole top of it" was burned.

Yarbrough say the fire - which started in the attic and probably smouldered for a time - was consistent with a lightning-caused fire.

He says the occupants had gotten married Saturday and left town for a honeymoon in the Virgin Islands.