Lightning may have caused a fire that destroyed a historic 1830s Clarkesville home last week.

The residents were out of the country when their Jefferson Street house caught fire around 10:52 p.m. Thursday, Clarkesville Fire Chief Jerry Palmer said.

The fire marshal is still investigating, but Palmer said heavy lightning damage to a nearby tree has investigators looking at the storm as a possible cause.

More than 50 emergency personnel responded to the fire only minutes after a passer-by reported the blaze, but only a garage and pool house were salvaged.

Palmer said the main house was ruled a complete loss with damage estimated at $1.7 million.

The home was listed for sale as a four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath house with six fireplaces and sitting on 5 acres. It was listed for about $1.8 million.

The real estate listing describes it as being "lovingly restored."