Lightning Sparks O'Fallon House Fire

Ken Allison and his family consider themselves lucky. 

Although their O'Fallon home, which backs to the athletic fields of the new Liberty High School, was heavily damaged by a Sunday night fire, they know it could have been worse.

The house could have easily burned to the ground—but it didn't.

The family was home Sunday night when what seemed like a fairly unremarkable summer storm rolled through the area. The Allisons' house took a lightning hit, which firefighters say sparked a fire inside the home's walls.

The living room, basement and a bedroom were heavily damaged. 

But because the family was home and smelled smoke, they caught it early.

"If we hadn't been home, the neighbors wouldn't have seen anything until it was too late," Ken Allison said. 

And despite their losses, the family is thankful. "It's just stuff, it's just a house. Everything can be replaced," Allison said.