Building in Holmes Beach struck by lightning during storm
A building in a plaza in Holmes Beach was struck by lightning and caught fire during severe storms in the area.
HOLMES BEACH, Florida. – According to police, a fire broke out in a building at a Holmes Beach shopping center Thursday morning after it was struck by lightning during a severe storm.
According to Holmes Beach police, lightning struck the Holmes Beach Business Center in the 5300 block of Gulf Drive.
At around 10:15 a.m., West Manatee Fire Department arrived at the building. They say about 30 minutes earlier, a video showed lightning striking the building, and witnesses claimed they saw it, too.
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No one was injured in the fire. However, the building, particularly the roof, was damaged.
Rodney Kwiatkowski of the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District said about six businesses were affected by the lightning strike and ensuing fire.
“We were inundated with water, the streets were flooded; flooding happens very quickly here on the island, which made the response even more complicated,” said Kwiatkowski. “However, we reacted quickly and the disaster was ended very quickly.”
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