Bethel, ME – A lightning strike late Wednesday afternoon sparked a fire that heavily damaged the main base lodge at Mt. Abram ski resort in Maine.

Witnesses reported seeing lightning strike the base of the mountain near the lodge moments before fire engulfed the upper floors of the building’s west wing. Six area fire departments battled the blaze well into the night on Wednesday.

The storm was one of many that battered the western part of the state Wednesday afternoon and evening with heavy rain, hail and lightning, and winds that gusted over 50 mph.

The resort’s general manager, Kevin Rosenberg, has assured that the ski area will be up and running normally in time for the start of the 2011-12 ski and snowboard season.