MOSES LAKE – A structure fire at a Moses Lake cold storage warehouse in the 3200 block of Road N Northeast on Thursday afternoon appears to have been caused by a lightning strike, according to a City of Moses Lake press release.  

Per Moses Lake Fire Administrator Mike Ganz, the lightning was witnessed by several workers on the scene. No firefighters or plant employees were injured in the incident. Photos provided by the city showed damage to the roof of the facility.  

The Moses Lake Fire Department led the response to the fire with Grant County Fire District 5 assisting at the scene. MLFD responded with three fire engines, a ladder truck, an ambulance and two command officers. GCFD 5 provided an additional fire engine, aerial ladder truck and two command officers. 

The fire burned a roughly 10-by-10-foot section of the roof of the facility, including into the rafters of the building. The blaze activated the building’s sprinkler system which aided firefighters in their efforts to suppress the fire. Crews cut vent holes in the roof to help isolate the fire and contain its spread.