A lightning strike ignited a fire that destroyed a lower McGuireville home last week.

The calls started to come in around 1:30 p.m., according to Assistant Chief Dave Niehuis with the Montezuma-Rimrock Fire District.

“There was a lot of lightning in the area,” Niehuis said. “Someone actually witnessed this lightning strike start the fire.”

The smoke was visible throughout the area, Niehuis said, as fire crews rushed to the wood-frame home at 3670 Brocket Ranch Road.

Once the district was on the scene, other firefighters arrived to help from the Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Sedona and Verde Valley fire departments and districts.

Crews were able to save a detached garage area leaving only some exterior damage, but the home itself was a total loss.

“It was a real stubborn fire, very hot,” Niehuis said, adding firefighters were combating the blaze until well after 5 p.m.

No people were injured, but Niehuis said a dog and cat didn’t survive the fire.