Henry County Firefighters Busy Battling Lightning Fires For Second Consecutive Week

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Henry County Fire Department responded to over 10 different lightning strikes Friday between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Two of the five strikes left behind significant fire damage at 671 South Jackson Street and at 3021 Keeneland Blvd.

Despite the fact that the firefighters attempted to make a quick offensive attack at the South Jackson Street fire, the fire had already spread rapidly and firefighters were forced to back out of the structure due to roof collapse.  The structure on Keeneland Blvd. was an outbuilding and was already on the ground when units arrived on the scene.

"Fortunately, there were not as many working fires as there reported lighting strikes to residences, but the potential was definitely there," stated Captain Sabrina Puckett.  Two firefighters were treated and released for dehydration.

Henry County has had an estimated seventeen lightning strikes, to structures, resulting in working fires, as well as one fatality just in the last six months. According to the National Weather Service, to date there have been twenty-four lightning strike fatalities  in seventeen states and Georgia leads the  tragic numbers with three of the twenty-four. 

"Henry County Fire Department would like to remind citizens to 'Go Indoors, When Thunder Roars,' and have a fire escape plan," stated Captain Sabrina Puckett.

Photo Courtesy of Henry County Fire Department:  671 South Jackson Street, Locust Grove, Georgia


Author:Henry County Fire Department Press Release