SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Officials say they've determined the cause of a large house fire near Bullard.
According to CBS19 crews on scene, the fire broke out around 8:40 a.m., off Farm-to-Market Road 2493, south of Bullard. The National Weather Service also reports a tree fell on a Cherokee County Sheriff's Office vehicle that was parked as officials work to control traffic at the scene of the fire.
Officials tell CBS19 the closest fire hydrants were four miles away and it took about 10 minutes, roundtrip, to get from the hydrants to the home.
Homeowner Kathy Ramey tells CBS19 she and her husband had been working on their "dream home" for about five years and were hoping to have it finished within the next two years.
The house was destroyed in the blaze, but no injuries were reported.
Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson says the fire was started by a lightning strike.
A GoFundMe has been launched to help the family with their expenses.