UNDATED - Tuesday night's stormy weather kept firefighters busy in Jackson and Barrow counties.
Two homes were hit by lighting, one in Hoschton and another in Jefferson, according to Jackson County Emergency Management Director Steve Nichols.
The first fire occurred around 4:49 p.m. when the first round of spring storms moved across the county. Nichols said the house at 348 Summer Hill Drive in Hoschton was heavily damaged from a fire believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike. The family living in the home was displaced, but Nichols said they are staying with relatives. Units from Jackson Trail, North Jackson, West Jackson, and the Jackson County CI responded to the incident.
While fire crews were working on the fire in Hoschton, a call came in for a fire at a home at 933 Ebenezer Church Road in Jefferson. The occupant of the house told firefighters lightning had hit the power source in the home. That fire, according to Nichols was contained to the electrical system. He said units from Jefferson, Jackson Trail, Arcade, and the Jackson County CI Fire Departments responded to the scene. Nichols said another storm system had come through Jefferson about the same time that fire was reported.
Nichols said these types of fires are common during spring's turbulent weather. He says it is best to stay inside during stormy weather, especially when lightning is involved.
"That's the best place to be," he said. "Even though both of these residences got struck by lightning, people were inside the structures and there were no injuries. That's a positive thing."
Meantime in Barrow County, fire officials said two people were displaced as a result of a house fire in the 1500 block of Union Court in Auburn. The house sustained moderate damage to the attic and chimney.
Lightning struck the metal chimney case and ignited the wood frame around the chimney.
Sunday
May 19th, 2024
4:30AM
