Lightning likely sparked Cary house fires

Lightning might be to blame for fires at two adjacent houses in Cary Tuesday evening, according to a preliminary findings by fire investigators.

Lightning struck a tree between the homes in the 100 block of Bell Arthur Drive around 7:15 p.m., fire officials said. Neighbors said they heard a loud bang shortly before the fires started.

No one inside the two-story homes was injured.

Officials said the fires did $100,000 worth of damage to one home, and $50,000 worth damage to the other home.