News / fire
Lightning strike sets house on fire
A house has suffered serious fire damage after being struck by lightning.
The roof and first floor of the home on Wadham Grove in Emersons Green caught alight following the lightning strike during a thunderstorm on Monday night.
Everybody in the house thankfully escaped unharmed.
One neighbour writing on the Mangotsfield Matters Facebook group said: “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.”
Avon Fire & Rescue Service received a report that a fire had broken out on Wadham Grove opposite Cleve RFC soon before 6pm.
A fire service spokesperson said: “Upon arrival, crews found the house well alight and are currently on the scene tackling the fire.”
Crews from Kingswood, Temple, Southmead, Patchway and Portishead headed to Emersons Green to fight the blaze, with videos posted on social media showing flames enveloping most of the roof and black smoke billowing into the sky.
Bristol Airport was also closed to all flights on Monday evening due to a fault with its air traffic control systems following the thunderstorm.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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