HCFR investigating possible lightning strike causing fire at Tampa condominium

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue investigated a condominium fire at Egypt Lake Beach Club Condominium early Tuesday morning.

HCFR responded to a call around 2 a.m. reporting heavy smoke coming from the building. Once on the scene, HCFR confirmed a working fire with smoke and flames coming from the third-story complex.

According to HCFR, The condo did lose power due to a lightning strike in the area around 6 p.m. Monday.

“They went searching for the source, potentially a lightning strike or a fire secondary to the actual strike but they couldn’t locate anything. Went to bed and about 2:30 this morning smoke alarms woke them up and that’s when they noticed the whole room was filled with smoke,” said Danny Alvarez, Acting Public Safety Information Chief.

The fire affected three units, and Red Cross has been contacted to assist those residents.

No injuries were reported, but two cats are unaccounted for, according to HCFR.

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