The Fishers Fire Department responded to several reports of lighting damage, including three fires and a strike at a hotel, which injured one person. These incidents occurred as a cluster of thunderstorms passed through the area.
The first incident reported was at the Studio 6 hotel on North by Northeast Boulevard, at approximately 5:00 pm. The initial call reported a fire alarm at the facility, and a subsequent call reported a person had been struck by lighting at the hotel. The hotel occupant was on the telephone at the time of the strike, and received an electrical shock. That person was taken to Community Hospital to be checked out. The hotel’s telephones and fire alarm system were knocked out by the strike.
The second and third fire reports came in almost simultaneously, just after 5:30 pm.
Lightning struck a home in the 11500 block of Altamount Drive and ignited the attic area. The homeowner felt and heard the hit to her home, discovered smoke coming out of her roof, and safely evacuated with her children. The fire burned a large section of the roof and attic, and caused smoke, falling debris and water damage to the living areas of the home.
The third strike was reported in the 14300 block of Liverpool Lane, where part of a roof was blown off by the lightning. A small fire in the attic area was extinguished quickly by firefighters while the rest of the home was checked.
The fourth lightning strike was reported in the 13900 block of Avalon Boulevard, which was several blocks away from the third reported strike. The firefighters from the third incident relocated to the home on Avalon and found flames burning through the roof. That fire also burned a large portion of the roof and attic, and caused extensive damage to the living areas of the home due to smoke, debris and water damage.
The homeowners on Altamount Drive and Avalon Boulevard will not be able to stay in their homes, but do have insurance.
The Fishers Fire Department was assisted by the Carmel, Fortville, Lapel, McCordsville, Noblesville, Lawrence Township and the Wayne Township (Hamilton County) fire departments.
