AUSTIN, Texas – Lightning strikes from Sunday evening’s tornados triggered 2 residence fires throughout the Austin location.
What they’re claiming:
On March 23, in Southeast Austin, a screw of lightning struck a home around 9:30 p.m., triggering a fire.
” It was quickly ‘break’. It seemed like something struck something,” claimed next-door neighbor Chuck Jennings.
” And after that I saw the smoke originating from your house,” claimed next-door neighbor Ethan Jennings.
Austin fire staffs hurried to the home on Home Rose Drive near Onion Creek and US-183. When they showed up, component of the roof covering got on fire.
” They might see three-foot fires appearing of the framework,” claimed Rachael Lewis, procedures public details police officer for the Austin Fire Division.
” That’s the very first time I have actually seen something like that,” claimed Chuck Jennings.
Crews utilized a ladder vehicle to open the roof covering and placed the fire out.
” As you can see, this neighborhood, whatever’s quite close with each other. You questioned if it could spread out, however the firemans did an excellent task,” claimed Chuck Jennings.
The family members was home and ventured out securely. Nobody was harmed.
” Your house is fairly harmed. That is something that we see with lightning strikes. The attic room is really harmed. The home will certainly require a fair bit of substantial operate in order to be able to be habitable once again,” claimed Lewis.
The Austin Fire Division claims they reacted to numerous lightning-related phone calls Sunday evening.
” As the tornado period grabs, we do see fairly an increase in lightning strikes,” claimed Lewis.
Meanwhile, in Lakeway, staffs with Lake Travis Fire Rescue were contacted us to an additional fire triggered by lightning on Whitley Drive in the Ridge at Alta View community off FM 620.
When staffs showed up, they discovered hefty fire originating from the roof covering of the home. 4 various other divisions were contacted because of high winds and blowing cinders endangering neighboring homes.
No one was harmed.
What you can do:
While you can not stop lightning from striking your home, you can shield your home appliances by obtaining a rise guard.
” You can purchase or mount. We suggest having them mounted, a lightning arrester inside your home,” claimed Lewis. “So what that can do is it offers the lightning a refuge, a risk-free ways to take a trip in the direction of the ground, which usually minimizes the fire and the damages danger.”
If you see lightning, you need to get in and remain within, steer clear of from doors or home windows, and stay clear of utilizing water.
The Resource: Details from meetings performed by FOX 7 Austin’s John Krinjak
