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Several Raleigh homes damaged by fire caused by lightning strike
A lightning strike caused a fire on Friday afternoon that damaged three homes in a Raleigh neighborhood, a Raleigh Fire Department spokesperson says.
Around 75 firefighters and multiple fire trucks responded to the scene on Silver View Lane, where smoke and damage were visible from one of the homes.
“I heard the loudest crack of thunder to my left and I knew something got struck,” Liz Perkins, a neighbor said. “Then about five minutes later, at the most, I saw a firetruck come running down our street.”
The fire department spokesperson confirmed that no one was injured, but six people have been displaced due to the fire.
Another neighbor, Sabrina Lonigra, who was working from home during the storm, rushed outside as soon as she saw the flames.
“There was so much smoke covering the house that I couldn’t really see the severity of it,” Lonigra said. “It was still down pouring, so it was a lot to take in. And the smell of it was really strong too.”
A nearby neighbor captured video footage showing flames coming from the home. It took firefighters 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.
Residents of Silver View Lane believe that two of the three affected homes are complete losses, leaving all three families displaced.
“Two of the houses, you know they don’t have a home anymore. Not only is it the house,” Valerie Ziemba, a neighbor said. “It’s their belongings and memories and their life in there. And it’s devastating to watch.”
Neighbors have started a GoFundMe to help the people whose homes were damaged by the fire.
Three other lightning strikes cause house fires
Additionally, there were three other incidents where lightning strikes caused fires.
1. On Gunnison Place, a homeowner believes lightning struck his home causing the house to erupt in flames.Raleigh Fire Chief Chris Holcomb spoke with the homeowner.
“He said he was looking down the hallway, saw a big orange flash and heard a loud bang. He said that’s when he started seeing smoke and smelling smoke,” Holcomb said.
2. On Concord Hill Court, a Raleigh Fire Department spokesperson said a lightning strike had caused a fire.
3. On Secret Drive, a Raleigh Fire Department spokesperson said a lightning strike caused a fire.
