Residents managed to escape unharmed when lightning struck a house, causing it to catch fire during a thunderstorm.
Following the lightning strike in Emersons Green, Bristol, just before 6 pm on Monday, June 22, the roof and first floor of the residence were engulfed in flames. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion before observing thick black smoke rising as the fire rapidly spread through the building.
A nearby resident remarked, “We are in the next road and the explosion was quite something. We knew something had been hit as soon as it happened and then saw the smoke. I’m so glad no one was injured.”
Footage shared on social media depicted flames consuming a large portion of the roof while columns of black smoke ascended into the air. Firefighters were captured on video utilizing hoses to combat the blaze.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service received reports of the fire around 5:55 pm. A spokesperson stated, “Upon arrival, crews found the house well alight.”
Fire crews from several stations including Kingswood, Temple, Southmead, Patchway, and Portishead rushed to the scene. The property sustained significant damage with the roof completely destroyed and the first floor also affected by the fire.
Before the incident, Avon Fire and Rescue Service had cautioned about an upcoming period of hot and humid weather that could have widespread consequences.
The service advised the public to take precautions during the heatwave and highlighted the potential dangers of open water during hot weather. Additionally, firefighters warned about the risks associated with barbecues and unnecessary bonfires that could ignite fires in such conditions.
The fire was one of multiple incidents attended by Avon Fire and Rescue Service that were linked to lightning strikes in the Bristol and Somerset areas during the thunderstorms on Monday.
The thunderstorms temporarily interrupted the ongoing heatwave that had caused temperatures to rise significantly earlier in the week. A yellow weather warning was issued as a brief low-pressure system moved across the Southwest of England on Monday night.
A forecast from the Met Office had predicted, “An area of thunderstorms moving east across the area will bring a spell of frequent lightning, gusty winds, torrential rain, and in some places, hail.”
Following the rainfall, some meteorologists anticipate that temperatures could reach 45°C by the end of the week, potentially breaking the UK’s highest recorded temperature for June, which currently stands at 35.6°C recorded in Southampton in June 1976.
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