Lightning Strikes Spark Ga. Fires

July 27, 2010
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -- Much of metro Atlanta suffered some sort of storm damage Monday night. Firefighters in Gwinnett County told Channel 2 Action News reporter Darryn Moore that they responded to more than 120 incidents including an office building that caught on fire after a bolt of lightning hit it. Ricky Busbee's surveying business was the target of a series of lightning strikes during thunderstorms that moved through Gwinnett County on Monday.

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. --

Much of metro Atlanta suffered some sort of storm damage Monday night.

Firefighters in Gwinnett County told Channel 2 Action News reporter Darryn Moore that they responded to more than 120 incidents including an office building that caught on fire after a bolt of lightning hit it.

Ricky Busbee's surveying business was the target of a series of lightning strikes during thunderstorms that moved through Gwinnett County on Monday.

"Everything's destroyed," said Busbee. "It's gone. We got a couple of computers out, a couple of desks, but everything else caught on fire."

The severe weather kept Gwinnett County firefighters on the go as they responded to 122 emergency calls in less than four hours.

"There (have) been a tremendous amount of lightning strike calls," said one firefighter.

A bolt of lightning also is to blame for a house fire in Cobb County.

"I mean; the house is gone," said neighbor John Vance.

The family who lived in the home had no clue their house was on fire until Vance knocked on their door.

"I (saw the) flames shooting out of the roof and that"s when I went next door to get them out," said Vance.

The severe storms also flooded several neighborhood streets.

Gwinnett fire officials said they responded to 14 house fires, two apartment fires and the business fire that were all sparked by lightning.

Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist David Chandley said another round of strong to severe thunderstorms are expected Tuesday afternoon. The storms are capable of damaging winds, continuous lightning, small hail and heavy downpours, Chandley said.

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