Firefighters responded to a house fire in southeast Columbia, Missouri, on Thursday morning after a lightning strike ignited a blaze in the basement of a home.
The Columbia Fire Department was dispatched to the 2300 block of Bluff Creek Drive, where crews arrived to find smoke coming from the front of the residence. Firefighters quickly entered the home, located the fire in the basement and brought it under control before it could spread to other parts of the structure.
Assistant Fire Chief Lester Shewmake said firefighters thoroughly searched the home for additional hotspots after extinguishing the flames to ensure the fire had not spread through concealed spaces.
During a joint press briefing later in the day, officials confirmed that the fire had been caused by a lightning strike. Multiple fire apparatus responded to the incident, including five fire trucks, as crews worked to secure the property and verify that the home was safe.
No injuries were reported, and the quick response by firefighters helped limit the damage. Authorities have not released an estimate of the financial loss caused by the fire.
Lightning-caused house fires are relatively uncommon but can occur when electrical energy travels through a home’s wiring or structural components, igniting combustible materials. Fire officials encourage residents to inspect their homes after severe thunderstorms if they suspect a lightning strike.
Quick Facts
Location: Bluff Creek Drive, Columbia, Missouri
Incident: House fire caused by a lightning strike
Fire Origin: Basement
Reported Injuries: None
Emergency Response: Columbia Fire Department
Cause: Confirmed lightning strike
Status: Fire extinguished
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