A BUILDING at an outdoor centre in Dorset was struck by lightning this morning.
Dorset Fire and Rescue were called to the Townsend Centre in Townsend Road, Swanage around 5.53am to reports of a fire in the roof space of an unused wooden building.
The fire is believed to have been spotted by a milkman around 5.50am.
When fire crews arrived, flames were shooting through the roof of the building, used as a dormitory.
No-one was staying in the dorm at the time.
Three crews were sent in total and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using a hose reel jet and two main lines.
They conducted a search of the property to ensure that no-one was inside.
Firefighters worked to remove tiles and damp down the roof to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.
The incident was over by 7.38am.
A spokesperson for Dorset Fire and Rescue said: "The fire is thought to have been caused by a lightning strike and damaged approximately 25% of the roof."
A member of staff at the Townsend Centre declined to comment this morning.
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