Lightning Apparently Causes House Fire in Duluth

Gwinnett firefighters quickly brought a house fire in the 4600 block of Fairway View Court in Duluth under control after lightning apparently struck the home, according to Lt. Colin S. Rhoden. Firefighters were dispatched at 4:48 p.m. with the fire reported under control at 5:16 p.m. Wednesday (July 18).

Three occupants were home at the time of the fire, and all escaped unharmed.

WSB-TV news reported that the 2-year-old toddler called his father’s attention to the fire.

On arrival crews found smoke and fire showing from the roof of the single-story wood frame house on a basement, Rhoden reported in a press release. The fire caused moderate damage to the attic with and minor damage to the contents.

A total of five residents, four adults and the child, were displaced by the fire.   

Gwinnett County Fire/Emergency services handled 57 incidents when a severe thunderstorm with heavy rains, lightning and flash flooding passed through Gwinnett County between 4:40 and 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Rhoden also reported.

During the storm, a tree fell through a bedroom window in the 2600 block of Camelot Court NW in Duluth. Another tree fell on the front of a house in the 4200 block of Fallbrook Drive NW in Duluth. No injuries ocurred in either incident.