On Wednesday, July 29, at 4:48 p.m., members of the Carrboro Fire Rescue Department responded to the 100 Block of Lantern Way for a report of a house struck by lightning. Based on initial reports of a structure fire, additional fire crews were dispatched to assist.
Responding fire crews found a two story duplex-style home with smoke and fire visible from the roofline. The resident of the fire unit was home at the time of the fire, and evacuated when the fire department made entry to the home. The first crew arrived on scene in just over three minutes. Fire crews deployed two hose lines to extinguish the fire. The fire was brought under control approximately 13 minutes after the arrival of the Fire Department. The home suffered moderate damage. Initial damage estimates are in excess of $100,000.
There were no civilian or firefighter injuries due to the fire. The home was deemed uninhabitable, and the Town’s code compliance division will be notified for follow-up. Fire Investigators were on scene and the preliminary cause was a lightning strike. Carrboro received assistance from New Hope, and White Cross Fire Departments.
Due to the thunderstorms that had moved through town, Carrboro firefighters were on the scene of two other homes struck by lightning when this call was received. Because of the volume of incidents occurring in Carrboro, White Cross and New Hope Fire Departments were already in Carrboro to assist on the other calls. Their proximity to the incident helped reduce the time it took them to arrive on scene.