Lightning has been identified as the cause of two fires in Lawrence as a result of Wednesday evening’s storms that continued in the overnight hours.

Just after 4 a.m. Thursday, lightning struck Apple Lane Apartments, 1401 Lawrence Ave., and caused a fire on a second-floor roof area of the building.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire by about 5:15 a.m., after finding smoke and flames showing from the roof.

No injuries were reported in the fire, and Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical officials estimated the damage to the apartment complex at $200,000.

Another single-alarm fire occurred at a two-story residence in the 2000 block of Quail Creek Drive about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical firefighters noticed smoke inside the building and extinguished a fire in a concealed space in a walkout basement area. They were able to control the fire in about half an hour.

All occupants of the house had been accounted for, and damage to the building was estimated at $65,000.