Fire Department

Lightning struck two different structures on Madison’s west side.

During last night’s storm, lightning struck an apartment complex at 12:26 AM and at 12:29 AM, about one mile away a single family home was also struck by lightning.

Fire crews were first dispatched to the 6000 block of Pinelake Drive at 12:26 AM. As firefighters arrived, the fire alarm was sounding and people were evacuating the 2-story 24-unit complex. Firefighters from Ladder 7 asked the residents who were standing outside, if they saw any signs of smoke or fire. No one reported seeing smoke or fire.

Fire crews checked the building and found no sign of fire.

Three minutes later at 12:29 AM, firefighters were dispatched to another lightning strike on the 7000 block of Wildberry Drive, a 2-story single family home.

Resident met with firefighters outside and said the house was hit by lightning, but no fire or smoke was visible either outside or inside the home. The resident stated when the lightning struck, it blew out the power through the entire house and knocked dry wall off the ceiling in the front room and noticed a smoke odor in outlets in several rooms.

Fire crews from Ladder 2 checked the roof and found no indication of fire. All rooms and electrical panel were checked with a TIC - thermal imaging camera. No fire was found.

The resident was advised to contact an electrical contractor to have the house checked for damage and safety.

No one was injured as a result of the lightning strikes.