Cleanup and restoration work is underway at a Watertown church that caught fire following a lightning strike. The fire at Hosanna Lutheran began around 1:30 Monday afternoon as a thunderstorm was rolling through the city.
Fire damage was contained to the roof, but the sanctuary area flooded out from the water that was being poured on the fire over a six-hour period.
The first few rows of church pews were fully submerged. Volunteers began pumping water out of the sanctuary Monday night, and were preparing to tarp the roof, which has holes in it. Weather conditions were challenging as winds were gusting to 40 miles an hour.
Watertown Fire Rescue Chief Don Rowland says that helped provide oxygen to the fire and made it difficult to extinguish.
There were no injuries. Hosanna is making plans on where to hold Sunday services while the months-long cleanup and restoration work begins.