Authorities say that a lightning strike is likely to blame for a devastating fire that ripped through a Forsyth County residence early Sunday morning.

According to Division Chief Jason Shivers of the Forsyth County Fire Department, engines responded to a residence at 1570 Turner Road off Bald Ridge Marina Road at 4:51 a.m. Sunday and found a single-story home with its roof heavily engulfed in flames.

Shivers said that the residents of the home – an adult male and female and their young daughter – made it out of the home safely, but their residence suffered extensive damage to its roof, attic and one of its bedrooms.

He said that while the home is not necessarily a total loss, it is certainly unlivable for the time being due to burn, smoke and water damage.

This fire is currently still under investigation by the Forsyth County Fire Department, but according to Shivers all indications are pointing towards an accidental fire. He said they are leaning towards the possibility of a lightning strike as the cause of the fire.

“That’s an avenue that we are currently considering,” Shivers said. “There was a storm rolling through the area at that time.”

Shivers said that fire crews were totally clear of the residence at about 7 a.m. Sunday morning.