A Haines City residence was engulfed in flames yesterday afternoon following a lightning strike, leading to extensive property damage and the tragic loss of the homeowner's dog. The Haines City Fire Department received the call about the fire at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Cattle Ranch Road, as reported by WFLA.
Upon arrival, firefighters faced a "severe blaze" with flames reported to be 30 feet high. The intensity of the fire had already burned through the roof of the house by the time firefighting crews were on the scene, the damage compounded by a gaping hole, as stated by FOX 13. The State Fire Marshal's office has since confirmed that the fire was indeed sparked by a lightning strike.
Though the homeowners remained uninjured, the death of their dog adds a somber note to the incident. "While none of the home's occupants were injured, the homeowners sadly lost their dog during the fire due to smoke inhalation," according to WFLA. The exact scope of the damage is under investigation by the local fire crews and, they continue to assess the aftereffects of the lightning-induced blaze.
