Woodlands home burns while homeowners away

The Woodlands, Magnolia and Needham fire departments respond to a house fire on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, off of Hearthshire Circle. The Woodlands, Magnolia and Needham fire departments respond to a house fire on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, off of Hearthshire Circle. Photo: Michael Minasi, Staff Photo: Michael Minasi, Staff Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Woodlands home burns while homeowners away 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

THE WOODLANDS – A fire ripped through a home in The Woodlands late Monday afternoon.

Firefighters arrived at the home in the 100 block of Hearthshire Circle to find heavy fire coming out of the attic. Rescue teams with The Woodlands and Magnolia Fire Departments initially responded and eventually put out the blaze at the house, located in May Valley in the Village of Sterling Ridge on the west side of The Woodlands near FM 2978. Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams said the owners were not there at the time of the fire.

"We suspect [the home] may have sustained lightning damage, which led to fire," Williams said. "But we will not finish the scene investigation till tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."

The damage was extensive, with the fire and fire suppression destroying the roof and much of the top half. While the Fire Marshal's Office has an initial thought on the cause, officials will be investigating.