CINCO RANCH, Texas – A Cinco Ranch home is a total loss after firefighters say a lightning strike likely ignited an intense fire during a severe storm Tuesday night and three firefighters were treated for injuries while battling the blaze.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel was near the scene as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
Video captured huge orange flames erupting through the roof of the home as thick black smoke filled the sky. Firefighters from the Willow Fork Fire Department and Katy Fire Department climbed ladders and sprayed water on the structure, but the home was left unrecognizable.
Authorities say fortunately, no one was home when the fire broke out.
Neighbors across the street, Kelly Stewart and her daughter Julia, watched in disbelief as the storm intensified.
“We heard a few big booms, but we thought it was just thunder,” Kelly said.
Julia described the moment her mother spotted the flames.
“My mom came over and she was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I was like, ‘What?’ And she saw the roof on fire. I was just scared and I was hoping that the people inside were safe and okay,” Julia said.
Three firefighters were treated for injuries. A Katy firefighter and a Willow Fork firefighter were taken to a hospital for heat-related injuries, but both are expected to be okay.
Willow Fork Fire Department says this was the fourth possible lightning strike fire in the area during Tuesday night’s storm. The Fort Bend County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.