Seven people, including three children, were displaced Sunday after lightning caused a fire at their Gwinnett County home.
The fire happened on the same day that lightning struck Snellville Police Department’s headquarters and knocked out service to the agency’s administrative phone lines.
Firefighters were called to the home in the 1900 block of Green Gables Circle in Buford at 1:47 p.m. When they arrived, they saw flames coming from the second floor on the left side, Gwinnett fire spokesman Justin Wilson said.
A neighbor told officials a lightning strike hit the front corner of the house and traveled through the yard.
“The majority of fire damage was contained to the second floor bedroom on the affected corner of the home.” Wilson said. But, the fire caused “extensive electrical damage” at the home, he said.
Authorities said the lightning strike also seems to have ruptured a water main in the front yard of the home, which a Department of Water Resources official said affected nearly 60 homes in the neighborhood.
Gwinnett officials said nobody was injured in the incident. Authorities said crews were able to put out the fire, and the American Red Cross is working to assist the family.
While phones were down at the Snellville Police Department, residents were asked to contact 911 for emergencies. Phone service is back to normal Monday.
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