UPDATE: This story has been updated with the correct credit for a photo from the scene of the August 12 fire.

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Officials believe a lightning strike caused a fire Saturday night that destroyed a barn in town.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue members were heading back to their stations following a call on Cherry Street — a tree near a home there had burned following a possible lightning strike — when Chief Anthony Capozziello saw something across the street from his company's main station.

"I saw a glow, and it was clear we had a fire going," Capozziello said.

Sandy Hook VFR and all four additional Newtown fire companies were dispatched at 10:09 pm to 13 Riverside Road for the fire. Capozziello and others believe a lightning strike during a brief but intense storm caused that fire. Flames were clearly showing through the roof and east side of the structure as firefighters began arriving at the scene.

The barn was tucked between two private residences, one each on the structure's west and east. Online records indicate the property is owned by Gary Costa. He and his family were reportedly not home when the fire started, according to multiple sources.

At least one family member returned while firefighters were still on the scene, however.

Capozziello said despite its proximity to the two dwellings, neither was in danger from the fire. The challenge on Saturday was how close the barn was to a fence on its east side.

"It was a tight squeeze between the barn and that fence, but they managed, of course," he said.

The floor of the barn was quickly compromised, Capozziello said, for firefighting was done only from the building's exterior. Ladders around the building's perimeter provided access to the second level, where openings were cut into walls for ventilation and water access,

Firefighters were able to knock down the worst of the fire within 30 minutes of it first being spotted.

Eversource responded to the scene, cutting power to the property.

One firefighter was checked for injuries after a fireball emanated from a mower inside the barn, the chief said. The firefighter was knocked off their feet, but not seriously injured, he added.

There were no further injuries reported.

The two-story barn was approximately 754 square feet, also according to online assessor records.

Riverside Road was closed to through traffic between its intersections with Sandy Hook Center and Cherry Street while firefighters were on the scene.

Capozziello believes approximately 40 firefighters responded to the scene.

Bethel, Stevenson and Southbury personnel provided coverage at Dodgingtown, Botsford and Sandy Hook's stations, respectively. Final firefighters were able to clear from the scene at midnight.

Sandy Hook returned to the Riverside Road barn around 6 am Sunday to douse a smoldering section of the structure.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.