Abington, Massachusetts experienced severe weather last night that resulted in multiple lightning strikes, including an impactful one on a group home that ignited a significant fire. The incident occurred at a residence on 439 Washington Street, home to five people with special needs. According to NBC Boston, the fire was a result of a lightning strike that hit the main gas line of the building.
Staff quickly evacuated all residents before the firefighters arrived on scene. While no injuries were reported, two individuals were transported to local hospitals as a precautionary measure. As reported by Boston 25 News, the Abington Fire Department, led by Chief Jack Glynn, managed to contain the blaze to the outside of the building. They worked to cool the structure until the gas could be shut off safely from the street by National Grid technicians, who were delayed due to the storms.
Chief Glynn described the event as "unusual," noting that it is not common for lightning to strike a gas line directly. "This could've been disastrous," he told NBC Boston, praising his crew's ability to prevent the fire from devastating the home. It took approximately 40 minutes for National Grid to arrive and intervene, but once they did, the fire was quickly extinguished.
The aftermath left the group home uninhabitable for the night, and arrangements were made to relocate the residents. As noted by WHDH, the lightning strike was particularly difficult to contend with since the gas had to be turned off at street level, hindering immediate resolution of the emergency situation. Residents were not allowed to return to the building, likely pending safety inspections and repairs to ensure the home was once again habitable.
Further updates on the residents' situations and the state of the group home will be shared as more information becomes available from local authorities or through ongoing coverage by regional news outlets.
