Tonset Lutheran Church
(89th Ave. NW, 0.2 miles south of 94th St. NW, approximately 4 miles southwest of Lignite)
Lignite, Burke County, North Dakota 58752
(89th Ave. NW, 0.2 miles south of 94th St. NW, approximately 4 miles southwest of Lignite)
Lignite, Burke County, North Dakota 58752
Lightning strike burns Lignite Church By The Williston Herald Jun 23, 2002
Lightning ignited the Tonset Lutheran Church, seven miles south and four miles west of Lignite early Saturday, causing some $30,000 damage.
Around 7:45 a.m., workers from the Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative saw the lightning strike when they were doing work in the area and alerted authorities.
"The lightning struck the steeple of the church and caused a fire," said Burke County Sheriff Brock Clingman, who also is fire chief for Lignite.
"We contained the fire to the steeple," he said.
The Lignite Fire Department was assisted by the Columbus Fire Department. Farrel Transport also provided a water truck.
According to Clingman, the church, built in 1916, is used on an occasional basis. Regular church services ended in 1968.
Lightning ignited the Tonset Lutheran Church, seven miles south and four miles west of Lignite early Saturday, causing some $30,000 damage.
Around 7:45 a.m., workers from the Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative saw the lightning strike when they were doing work in the area and alerted authorities.
"The lightning struck the steeple of the church and caused a fire," said Burke County Sheriff Brock Clingman, who also is fire chief for Lignite.
"We contained the fire to the steeple," he said.
The Lignite Fire Department was assisted by the Columbus Fire Department. Farrel Transport also provided a water truck.
According to Clingman, the church, built in 1916, is used on an occasional basis. Regular church services ended in 1968.