Lightning struck a commercial building in rural Bart Township in Lancaster County as a storm front passed through the area on the evening of July 10.
The homeowner reported that he heard a lightning strike and he came outside afterward to check his house. Finding nothing evident, he returned to his house and went back to bed. About a half an hour later he heard the fire burning and found his wood shop a blaze.
The Bart Township Fire Company, along with the Quarryville and Gap Fire companies, were distatched on the first alarm.
Bart Township Fire Chief David King arrived on the scene and found a working fire in a 30-foot by 80-foot wood shop. He requested a second alarm which brought additional engines, tankers and a second truck.
Engine 51-1 (Bart Fire Co.) arrived and took a position between the house and the shop and began the initial attack.
Truck 57 (Quarryville Fire Co.) arrived and positioned themself on the street in front of the fire building and set up for elevated master stream work.
Additional tankers were called to the rural scene. Water had to be shuttled to the scene from a nearby creek.
Around 100 volunteer firefighters were on scene with the last clearing the scene shourtly after 3:00 a.m.
Chief King reported the loss at $215,000.
There were no injuries.
