Fire officials believe lighning triggered the blaze that damaged a Gwinnett County home early Monday evening.

Gwinnett firefighters responed to the 3800 block of Glen Ian Drive near Loganville around 5:10 p.m., finding "heavy fire involvement in the attic and flames on the second floor" of the home, Capt. Tommy Rutledge said. The blaze was brought under control in less than 40 minutes but burned away part of the roof and caused heavy damage to the attic and second floor.

No one was home when the fire broke out.

"Neighbors witnessed the lightning strike to the home and called 911 to alert the fire department," Rutledge said in a news release. "Severe thunderstorms were moving through the area at the time the fire erupted. It appears that lightning may have hit the electrical components in the attic, sparking intense fire conditions."

More severe weather is expected to move through Gwinnett County on Tuesday. Click here to follow the latest developments.

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Laurence Walker, a volunteer with the Cajun Navy Relief, left, takes two volunteers out on his boat on Lake Oconee to search for Gary Jones, Tuesday, February, 18, 2024, in Eatonton, Ga. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over a week ago, Saturday Feb. 8th. The body of Wilson was found Sunday, Feb. 9th and Jones has not been found. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com