CHARLOTTE, N.C.
--
A firefighter was injured while battling a house fire sparked by lightning.
Lightning struck the home on Polo Ridge Court around 11 p.m. Tuesday, fire officials said.
One firefighter became trapped after the homes second-floor ceiling collapsed. Other firefighters who were also inside the home carried the man to safety. The injured firefighter was taken to Presbyterian Hospital, treated and released.
The Racine family was home when the fire broke out and managed to escape before firefighters arrived. They said they heard a loud clap of thunder and, minutes later, they smelled smoke and evacuated their home.
It's scary because its so much out of your control, Tony Racine said. Its nothing you could do or prevented I guess."
He said hes just grateful he and his wife were able to get their children out safely.
We just got them up and out of there pretty quick, before the flames started kicking in, Racine said. And the firefighters got here quickly after that, so it never felt like it was a safety issue.
Fire officials estimated the damage to the home, which was insured, at $200,000.
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