UPDATE: Farmhouse Destroyed Following Lightning Strike

9:30 p.m.

A farmhouse on Route 535 was destroyed in a fire late this afternoon following an apparent lightning strike.

Police received a call at 4:30 p.m. reporting a structure fire near the Holy Cross Cemetery. A witness told police they saw a lightning strike adjacent to the farmhouse when heavy thunderstorms passed through the area, about an hour before the fire was reported. The witness then saw the home on fire about 30 minutes later. 

First responders arrived to find the abandoned farmhouse fully engulfed in flames. The Monmouth Junction, Kendall Park, and Kingston fire companies responded to the scene, with assistance from the Jamesburg and North Brunswick fire companies.

Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control within approximately 20 minutes. The structure, which had been abandoned for several years, was completely destroyed, according to police. There were no injuries suffered.

Route 535 was closed for about three hours as a result of the fire.

***

9 p.m.

South Brunswick Police have reopened Route 535 in both directions following the structure fire late Sunday afternoon.

***

5:15 p.m.

A fire in a farmhouse near the Holy Cross Cemetery has caused police to close part of Route 535, between Davidson Mill Road and Ridge Road.

South Brunswick Police spokesman Sgt. Jim Ryan said the two alarm blaze was reported at approximately 4:30 p.m. Sgt. Ryan said preliminary information indicates the fire may have been caused by a lightning strike. There were no injuries reported.

The Jamesburg Fire Department and local first responders are on scene fighting the fire as of 5 p.m.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.