Two homes were damaged by lightning that accompanied a line of strong storms Thursday in Hamilton County, according to Amy Maxwell of the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
A 911 call was made about 11:40 a.m. reporting a possible house fire located in the 10000 block of Meadowstone Drive in the Apison area.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office was the first unit on the scene and reported smoke showing on the roofline. Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department arrived two minutes later and reported heavy smoke and fire in the attic.
Firefighters quickly gained access to the home and extinguished the fire and contain the damage to the attic. Tri-Community officials reported the cause of the fire was from a lightning strike that hit the roofline of the home and started a fire in the attic.
No one was home when the fire broke out and no injuries were reported.
Later a 911 call was made about noon reporting a possible house fire in the 8500 block of Middle Valley Road.
Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded on the scene and reported smoke coming from the residence. Firefighters gained entry in the house to find heavy smoke throughout the house but no fire.
Dallas Bay VFD officials confirmed lightning had struck the homeowner's heating/air unit and traveled throughout the house and destroyed all the appliances.