Ypsilanti firefighters chop down tree struck by lightning to put out fire

With the fire burning from the inside out, firefighters said they needed to chop the tree at 119 N. Hamilton St. down in order to get to the blaze.

"Usually we would use a chainsaw, but it was an old tree, so we were able to take it down with axes," said Capt. Max Anthouard with the Ypsilanti Fire Department. "Nothing in the surrounding area was in danger."

The fire broke out about 9:30 p.m.

Although the storm set off several alarms, Anthouard said the lightning strike was the only storm-related incident the department had to deal with Thursday night.

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Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.