Storms early Wednesday produced a number of lightning strikes in the area, including one that ignited a fire and caused $1 million in damages to a Butler County home owned by a man who provides disaster recovery services.

Gary Keller drove around his ruined dream house on a golf cart Wednesday morning, surveying the damage a single lightning bolt wrought onto his home near Four Bridges Country Club.

“It’s heartbreaking you know. This was our dream house,” said Keller as tears welled up in his eyes.

The lightning struck Keller’s 4,000-square-foot ranch home at 8325 Princeton Road around 12:15 a.m.

By the time firefighters arrived, the house was engulfed in flames, said Liberty Twp. Fire Chief Paul Stumpf. The home was completely destroyed as were most of its contents, including two Mercedes-Benz automobiles.

“There was a loud crackle and thunder bolts,” said Darice Pacak, Keller’s fiance who was in the home when the lightning struck. “I could see sparks shooting out of the house.”

Lightning strikes in Mason and New Miami were also reported early Wednesday morning.

Keller was not at home at the time of the strike. As the owner of Disaster Services of Environmental Specialist, he was dealing with other damage caused by the storm, specifically working at a home in Springboro with water damage.

Besides Pacak, her mother Kay, 81, lived in the downstairs portion of the home and was also at home when the lightning started the fire. Both they and the family dog, Skipper, a Greyhound rescue suffering from lupus, escaped.

Pacak said there were heavy flames in the attic and she had only eight minutes to alert her mother and get them both safely out.

“Next time there is a storm I don’t know where I’m going. People need to be aware,” said Pacak, who noted that this is the third house in the neighborhood to be struck by lightning.

Keller said he purchased the land in 2002 and after demolishing a more than 100-year-old home and barn, he got to work as general contractor on his “dream home” which he’s now lived in for five years. Despite the loss of his home, he remained optimistic. “We’ll make it; we’re resilient,” Keller said.

He said the home and contents are insured for $1 million, but he’s unsure if he will rebuild. The three residents will be renting a home at nearby Four Bridges.

“I want to thank all the fire departments,” Pacak said. “They were really nice, understanding and compassionate.”

Stumpf said fire crews from Monroe, Mason and West Chester Twp. assisted.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or Hannah.Poturalski @coxinc.com.