Lightning Strike Causes Total Loss in Lawrenceville House Fire

Lightning caused a Wednesday night fire near Lawrenceville that resulted in a total loss to a house and its contents.

No injuries were reported.

Gwinnett firefighters arrived at the fire in the 600 block of Thornapple Trail near Lawrenceville, where they found heavy flames shooting through the roof of the one-story wood-frame house, according to Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge.

Fire crews reached the fire shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday, May 14.

“Firefighters deployed attack hose lines and entered the structure to battle the blaze and conduct a primary search,” Rutledge reported. “Fire crews were forced to back-out moments later due to intense fire conditions and collapse of the roof in the center of the structure.”

Rutledge said a woman resident was getting ready for bed when she saw a bolt of lightning and heard a loud boom. She smelled smoke a short time later and escaped. She is being helped by relatives and neighbors.