Lightning Sparks Fire at Biden's House

Aug. 2, 2004
Lightning struck the home of Sen. Joseph Biden, starting a small fire that was contained to the kitchen.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- Lightning struck the home of Sen. Joseph Biden, starting a small fire that was contained to the kitchen.

No one was injured in Sunday's fire, which started amid a storm that caused serious flooding in Pennsylvania and knocked out power to hundreds of Delaware homes and businesses.

Biden is Delaware's senior senator and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His wife, Jill, reported the fire Sunday morning, officials said.

Many lightning strikes were reported in New Castle County, where the Biden home is.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the house, but were able to keep the flames from spreading beyond the kitchen, said Cranston Heights Fire Company Chief George Lamborn.

``Luckily, we got it pretty early,'' he said. ``The fire was under control in 20 minutes.''

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