By Howard Packowitz

COOKSVILLE– Firefighters from nine rural McLean County fire departments battled a house fire late Thursday night southwest of Cooksville when a thunderstorm passed through the area.

No one was hurt.

Cooksville Fire Chief Roger Clark said a man who lived alone in the house on the LeRoy-Lexington Blacktop said he heard the crack of thunder, smelled smoke, and saw a neighboring shed on fire.

Clark said flames spread to the farm house from wind gusts. He said the east side of the home sustained heavy fire damage, while there was heat, smoke, and water damage in the rest of the two story building.

The Cooksville Fire Department was aided by firefighters from Colfax, Anchor, Cropsey, Ellsworth, Saybrook-Arrowsmith, Lexington and Towanda.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.