Fire crews had a busy Monday morning responding to two fires in Rippey.

Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams says the first was a structure around 5:30am, and within minutes crews were also dispatched to a car fire. Rippey Fire Chief Pete Johnson said he responded to the car fire near the Greene and Boone County line on Highway 144. The driver, 39-year-old Brandi Medina of Norwalk was heading south on U Avenue. Johnson said Medina saw a bolt of lightning, heard a loud “bang” and her vehicle suddenly went dead. When she tried to restart it, she noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. Johnson added he put out the fire in about 15 minutes, but the 2008 Chrysler 300 was totaled.

Rippey and Grand Junction Fire departments and Grand Junction Rescue also responded to a lean-to fire on 290th Street and U Avenue at the home of Bob Heater. Firefighters were able to save the structure and any contents in it. Johnson believed the structure fire was also lightning related. He added that both fires were accidental in nature.

No one was hurt in either incident.

The Greene County Sheriff’s office assisted in the incidents.