For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Newburyport Fire Department Responds After Lightning Strikes Two Buildings

NEWBURYPORT — Chief Christopher LeClaire reports that the Newburyport Fire Department responded to two lightning strikes in the city Tuesday afternoon, including one that resulted in a fire at a single-family home.

Newburyport firefighters responded to a call at 3:55 p.m. for a fire in a single-family home at 8 Pine St. that began after the home was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm.

When they arrived, firefighters used a single hose line to quickly extinguish the flames that were burning on the top floor of the three-story home, limiting the damage to the structure.

Five minutes earlier, the Newburyport Fire Department responded to the Hope Community Church after an HVAC unit on the roof of the church was struck by lightning. No fire resulted from that lightning strike. The West Newbury Fire Department also responded to the church to assist.

Both buildings were occupied at the time of the lightning strikes, but nobody was injured.

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