RALEIGH, N.C. — A family of four in Raleigh is out of their home after lightning from Friday morning storms struck a tree next to the house and set the attic on fire, Raleigh Fire Department crews said.
Firefighters were called to the Lambeth Drive house, which sits in North Raleigh close to the North Hills shopping area, at about 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6. Two people were in the house when it caught fire. Both got out, and no injuries were reported.
Dozens of firefighters were sent to the call. Crews arriving at the scene found heavy fire in the attic and saw that the tree right beside the house had clearly taken the lightning strike. The Raleigh Fire Department said crews had the blaze under control in roughly 15 minutes and kept the flames to the roof area.
Even with the quick knockdown, the damage to the roof means the house cannot be lived in for now. After the fire was out, crews stayed inside to help the family pull out personal belongings and valuables they could save.
The strike came as a band of showers and thunderstorms moved across the Triangle, bringing heavy rain, flooding in parts of central North Carolina and a slow commute. No deaths from the storms were reported in the Triangle.
The weather also scrambled weekend plans downtown. The city canceled its First Friday Market and Movie event because of the storms, and Raleigh officials said they hope to reschedule it later this spring.
Fire officials have not released an estimate of the damage to the Lambeth Drive home or said where the family is staying.
Section: More Raleigh NC crime news
Filed under: Raleigh NC Public Safety News
