(Photo by Paul Shelton)

WACO (June 20, 2012)—Lightning strikes are the suspected cause of two house fires Wednesday afternoon in the Waco area.

The first was reported Wednesday afternoon at 1037 Salem Way just south of China Spring Road where a lightning strike ignited an attic fire.

Damage was limited to the attic area.

The second was reported at almost the same time in the 3300 block of Rock Creek Road northeast of the first fire.

Flames engulfed much of the two-story frame house and were shooting from the roof.

The pilot of a Department of Public Safety helicopter spotted the fire Wednesday afternoon and landed in a field to check to see if anyone was home, but the two people who live in the house were both gone at the time.

A fire official said the house was heavily damaged, but is not a total loss.

Thunderstorms were rumbling through the area at the time of the fires Wednesday.