The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed that a fire that heavily damaged a Middletown home in the Springmill community shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday was caused by a lightning strike. Lightning struck and heavily damaged a Middletown house Sunday afternoon, said Frank Bailey, fire chief of the Volunteer Hose Company of Middletown. An owner of the home in the 500 block of Whispering Trail in the Springmill development was home at the time but was not hurt, he said. A neighbor was able to get the owner out after seeing smoke coming from the home, the chief said.