A neighbor provided a crucial warning after a lightning strike at a home in The Villages.
Stephen and Carolyn Gale were at their home at 851 Shellbark Way in the Village of Sabal Chase at about 5 p.m. Thursday when they heard a loud bang.
“It was very loud, but we didn’t know anything had happened,” said Stephen Gale. “A couple minutes later our neighbor was telling us about the fire.”
The Gales were relieved at the quick arrival of The Villages Public Safety Department. Multiple units responded to the blaze.
“Upon arrival, units had heavy smoke showing from the roof and eaves above the garage. The first due crew made entry into the garage and found an active attic fire above the garage and rapidly extending into the remainder of the home. The first unit on the scene did a great job deploying hose lines and began attacking the fire,” said Robert Ramage, Deputy Chief of Operations for The Villages Public Safety Department.
Medic 44 arrived and conducted a primary search of the home. No occupants were located, but the Medic 44 crew rescued one cat from the home. Engine 44 conducted a secondary search and located and removed another cat from the home.
“Additional fire crews performed coordinated vertical ventilation on the Bravo side of the roof to assist interior crews with controlling the fire and any extension. Once ventilation was completed, interior conditions improved rapidly, and the fire was quickly brought under control,” Ramage said.
Crews commenced the overhaul and ventilated the structure. The ventilation hole was covered with Visqueen. The fire was contained in the attic above the garage, he added.
The Community Emergency Response Team of The Villages also responded to the scene with CERT members providing firefighter rehab. One firefighter suffered a minor injury.
It’s been an exceedingly dangerous lightning season here in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown, sparking about a half dozen fires at homes.
Fire completely destroyed a home in May in the Village of Winifred. Fortunately, the snowbirds who own the home were in Wisconsin when lightning ignited the blaze.