April 20 -- GULFPORT -- Lightning struck a vacant Gulfport home early Friday, destroying the wooden structure and threatening an adjacent home where a family had been asleep, a Gulfport fire official said.
Police helped evacuate children in the neighboring home about 6 a.m. as 18 firefighters from several stations tried to protect their home while putting out the fire at the vacant house, said Battalion Chief Chris Henderson of the Gulfport Fire Department.
Fire-fighting crews found no one inside the burning home at 1616 30th Ave. Henderson said the house had a "for sale" sign out front but the house had no electrical power or gas service.
Firefighters worked to put out the blaze as winds whipped flames toward the neighboring home. Henderson said the adjacent house had slight damage to its vinyl siding, but the family who lives there was allowed to return home about 7:15 a.m.
"No one was injured, and that's always the best thing," Henderson said.
The destroyed home was a 1,300-square-foot residence with wood floors, he said.
Investigators later determined lightning struck the back of the house, which started the fire.
Copyright 2013 - The Sun Herald
