SAVANNAH, Ga. () – An apartment building on Savannah’s south side was dismantled and is now condemned due to severe weather.
The Heron on the Bluffs complex has a building that is one of possibly two in Chatham County hit by a lightning-induced fire within 24 hours.
Fourteen families were displaced after the building caught fire Friday.
Jack McCutchen Jr., a Savannah Fire Department Assistant Chief with 27 years of experience, mentioned that seeing a major fire caused by natural elements like this is quite rare.
“We occasionally experience lightning strikes impacting buildings, but usually on a much smaller scale,” said McCutchen. “It’s uncommon to witness a structure so engulfed in flames with fire pouring out of the attic.”
Then on Saturday a possible lightning strike hit a residence in West Chatham County on Grove Point Rd./Williams Retreat causing a fire of a much smaller magnitude.
Savannah Fire said when severe weather hits unplug tools and appliances within reason to minimize the chances your residence is struck.
“If it’s plugged in and the lightning strikes the building, it’s going to go to another source, so it could go through plugs and so forth that will affect your appliances,” he said.
On top of that, he said to away from water and windows and to immediately leave the building if it gets struck.
