Homes Evacuated After Lightning-Induced Fire in Melton
Several homes in Leicestershire were evacuated following a fire caused by a lightning strike to a property.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service reported that crews were alerted at 04:57 BST on Thursday to a fire on the roof of a house located on Bayswater Road, Melton, after receiving reports of a lightning strike during a thunderstorm.
A spokesperson for the fire service confirmed that the fire has since been extinguished and no casualties were reported.
Fire crews, a building inspector, and National Grid personnel remain on site to manage the situation.
The fire service detailed that teams from Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Billesdon, and Central Fire Station responded, with additional support from fire services in Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.
Separate Lightning Strike Damages Bungalow in Witherley
In a related event, a bungalow in the Leicestershire village of Witherley, near Atherstone, sustained significant damage after a direct lightning strike.
Firefighters were called to Orchard Close at approximately 03:45 BST on Thursday, where they discovered a fire in the roof of the property.
Efforts to access the roof space involved the use of a ladder; however, due to the intensity of the flames breaking through the roof, crews were forced to withdraw, according to Nuneaton Fire Station.
"Due to the intensity of the flames bursting through the roof, crews had to be withdrawn,"
No injuries were reported. Personnel from Nuneaton, Polesworth, and Leicestershire fire services worked to prevent the fire from spreading to a neighboring bungalow.
Widespread Thunderstorms and Lightning Across the Country
Overnight thunderstorms with lightning affected many regions across the country, following record-breaking temperatures for this time of year.
In Yorkshire, Transpennine Express reported that a lightning strike caused damage to a signalling system, resulting in a fault.
Network Rail also confirmed that a suspected lightning strike disrupted services on the West Coast Main Line near Runcorn.
Stay Informed
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