NC lighting strike sparks 3-alarm fires amid storms, flooding

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A lightning strike caused three homes to catch on fire in North Raleigh Friday afternoon, prompting a response of 75 firefighters Friday afternoon, fire officials told CBS 17.

Raleigh Fire Department crews responded to three homes on fire after lighting stuck one of the homes on Silver View Lane at 2:13 p.m. Public Information Officer Jamie Cheveralls said lightning stuck the middle home and then the fire spread across the roofs. She said no one was home at the time.

The 3-alarm fires were extinguished with no injuries sustained by those at home or firefighters.

“It was pretty significant,” Cheveralls said. “That’s fortunately very rare in the City of Raleigh, but this fire was significant. We’re very fortunate that no one was home, no one was injured.”

Six people were displaced by the fire, but no response from the Red Cross was needed, fire officials added.

About 3.5 miles northeast on Concord Hill Court, Nikia Reid said she heard an explosion at her home. “It just dawned on me that the house got struck by lightning,” she said. “Then I realized the house might be on fire.”

Reid rushed out of the house with her dog and children. She said the burned roof vent was the only exterior damage thanks to Raleigh fire’s quick response.

“I heard the sirens and they took action immediately,” Reid said. “I’m so relieved. It just could have been so, so much worse.”

Friday’s lightning is also the cause of a fire on Gunnison Place in Raleigh, according to the homeowner.

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