CEDAR FALLS - Friday afternoon storms can be blamed for a fire that damaged a duplex near the University of Northern Iowa.

Lightning struck a house at 1123 W. 22nd Street and ignited the fire.

"It struck the roof and spread into the attic from there," said Cedar Falls Fire Department Lt. Desi Duggan.

The strike occurred shortly after a band of storms which swept across Grundy and Black Hawk counties brought heavy rain and hail the size of quarters in Cedar Falls and Waterloo.

The fire was contained to the attic, but did cause smoke damage to the house.

The rental duplex, built in 1910, is currently unoccupied.

Many residents from a nearby apartment complex knew the lightning was close.

Josh Brungardt lives in an apartment next door to the building.

"We saw lightning streak right through the street here," said Josh Brungardt while watching firefighters extinguish the fire.

Another neighbor in the same building, Tony Nelson, went outside when he smelled smoke.

"We saw the lightning and heard the thunder immediately. We knew it was right here," Nelson said. "The entire attic just lit up and it was completely engulfed in fire."

The fire started during a severe thunderstorm that swept through the area. Firefighters arriving on the scene drove through hail, and started their work in rain and lightning.

The storm hampered some efforts at fire control.

Duggan said the fire department delayed sending any firefighters up on the aerial truck because of the danger of lightning. Crews marched up the steps of the building to start with an interior attack.

Despite obstacles, firefighters were able to get water on the hotspots and stop the fire inside the attic.

No damage estimates were immediately available.

The Waterloo Fire Department sent an engine crew to help out on the fire scene, while the Janesville Fire Department also assist by sending people to man the fire station.

The building is owned by Campustown Partners of Chicago. The firm had been doing some painting and remodeling.