Thunderstorms Blamed for Des Moines Fires

Authorities say three house fires in Des Moines, Iowa, were all caused by weekend thunderstorms.

The Des Moines Register reports that lightning strikes triggered fires at two homes in Johnston and one in Clive.

The Johnston fires were triggered at houses across the street from one another. Johnston Fire Chief Jim Krohse says both involved ruptured gas lines, but no one was injured.

In Clive, a lightning strike was blamed for an attic fire that caused damage estimated at $20,000. No injuries were reported.

The blazes were reported as the weekend threat of tornadoes subsided. Storms that moved through Iowa late Friday and early Saturday shed up to 2 inches of rain in the southern part of the state.