LAFAYETTE, La. ( KLFY ) — A Lafayette church was damaged by a fire after lightning struck the building Thursday night, authorities said.

At 11:31 p.m. Thursday Lafayette firefighters responded to a report of smoke coming from the roof of one of the buildings at Asbury United Methodist Church campus, 101 Live Oak Blvd. When firefighters arrived on scene, smoke was seen coming from the roof of the youth ministry building.

Firefighters discovered the fire burning in the wall of a room on the second floor. The fire penetrated through the roof of the building causing substantial smoke and fire damage.

Investigators determined the fire was started by lightning during Thursday night’s thunderstorms. Lightning strikes were witnessed in the area during the bad weather, officials said.

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The building was not occupied at the time of the fire. Utility services were disconnected to the youth ministry building as a result of the fire damage.

The fire was ruled an accident.

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