Terri Richardson
The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
(TNS)
Jun. 30—Four North Myrtle Beach area homes were damaged by lightning strikes Thursday evening. Two of the homes caught fire, according to fire crews.
A thunderstorm that rolled through parts of the Grand Strand, bringing lightning and heavy rain, was the cause for the fires that occurred within less than 30 minutes, according to North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue and Horry County Fire Rescue.
Fire crews were dispatched to a structure fire in the 400 block of 33rd Avenue North at 4:33 p.m., according to a Facebook post by North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue.
The fire from the lightning strike began in the attic, damaging the second floor of the home. Those in the home were able to escape without injuries, according to the post.
Shortly after the first call, crews were also dispatched at 4:34 p.m. to another house in the 400 block of 7th Avenue South. The incident was caused by a power surge from an indirect lightning strike. The homeowner was uninjured.
At 4:38 p.m., Horry County Fire Rescue was dispatched to Pinehurst Circle in Little River for a reported multi-unit residential structure fire. The cause of the reported fire appears to have been a lightning strike, according to a Facebook post by Horry County Fire Rescue. There were no reported injuries.
North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue also responded to a tree that was struck by lightning and fell onto a vehicle in the driveway of a home at 13th Avenue South, ripping the weather head and service line from the home. The lightning strike created an electrical surge that damaged the hot water heater and caused smoke in the home. The occupants were home and all escaped with no injuries.
North Myrtle Beach received assistance from Myrtle Beach and Calabash and Sunset Beach, North Carolina, fire departments.
The fires also caused traffic issues, which were handled by North Myrtle Beach Police.
This story was originally published June 28, 2024, 8:36 AM.
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