Woman puts out lightning fire with water hose - WSMV Channel 4
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Wednesday, two fires caused by lightning strikes hit Montgomery County.
"The guy from the fire department said it hit on that end and just flashed down this way," said Rita Austin of Woodlawn, pointing to an area of burned siding on her Knight Road home.
"I guess we better be thankful it's not any worse than it is," she added.
The five children, including grandkids, staying at Austin's home at the time of Wednesday's storm are safe. For Austin, that's an overwhelming relief. Her quick action helped save her home of 24 years.
"Lightning struck it," said Austin. "We heard a real loud pop. From the corner of the house and down the back side of it, there was smoke bailing out of it. Flames shooting up around it. I got the water hose and started going where I could see flames coming up from the outside. I was taking the water hose trying to put it out."
Across the county, a lightning strike also led to the total loss of the Dereghis family's home on Oak Glen Lane.
"They had natural gas running into a fireplace there," said Jerry Buchanan of Emergency Management. "We think it maybe came down the chimney and busted the gas line when it came down."
Buchanan said the county has now had five lightning fires this summer. He said thunderstorms have been more violent in these uncommonly hot and dry conditions.
As the county braces for more severe weather, Austin said she's just thankful no one was hurt in either of the fires Wednesday.
"Even if it had burnt the house up, you can always get another house," said Austin. "If somebody gets killed, you can't replace somebody."
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