Lightning Hits Fla. Steeple As Firefighters Battle Blaze

COCOA, Fla. --

A local church felt the wrath of Central Florida storms Friday night.

The now-damaged church is in Cocoa, and officials said the lightning directly hit the steeple.

Late Friday, firefighters were in the process of cutting off the steeple to the Mt. Moriah AME church. Officials said it was the only way to finally get to the flames, which had been smoldering since about 6:30 p.m.

Lightning had already struck once, but WESH 2 News was there when it struck again and WESH videographer Dave Goldschlag was there to record it.

Firefighters had already responded to the first lightning strike and were at the scene when the second one hit.

"Our guys were on the ladder when it happened," said Cocoa Deputy Fire Chief Mike Corby.

The fire was first incorrectly reported during the fierce lightning storm to have been at a church a few blocks away. Firefighters lost precious minutes when they were directed to the wrong place and then spotted the smoke.

Once they arrived, however, they still couldn't put it out. "We can't reach it," Corby said.

The building is relatively new, but the Mt. Moriah AME congregation has been meeting in landmark sites in Cocoa since 1876.

A rainbow that appeared after the storm reminded some of God's biblical promise to Noah after the flood.

"We'll be alright," said church member Clarence Whipple.

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