CRESTVIEW — A lightning strike at a Crestview home Thursday afternoon started a fire that officials estimated did $50,000 damage.
Lightning struck an outside air conditioning unit at 214 Ladue Ave. at about 4 p.m. Thursday, and an electric current traveled across home wiring into the attic, said Anthony Holland, deputy chief of the Crestview Fire Department.
“We had what they call a flash fire,” Holland said.
Insulation in the home’s attic caught fire and was burning when fire crews arrived, Holland said. Fire fighters had to pull the insulation out of the attic to save the structure.
“The house is still standing. It will need some repairs,” Holland said. “Our crews did a good job in getting it out.”
Residents of the home were inside when the fire started, but all escaped without injury, Holland said. The family were not able to stay in the home Thursday night, but were able to make arrangements for a place to stay.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview home's attic catches fire after lightning strike