Lightning sparks fire at Lancaster shopping center
Lightning is suspected to have sparked the fire that caused minor damage to two stores in a Lancaster shopping center early Friday, according to the Lancaster Fire Department.
The call came in just after 1 a.m. at the Goody’s and Food Lion on Main Street, according to Chief Chuck Small of the Lancaster Fire Department. The fire appears to have started when lightning struck the facade in the front of the two stores.
Small said the worst damage in both stores was caused by smoke, with Goody’s receiving the most smoke damage.
About 30 responders from the city and county fire departments were on the scene, Small said. No injuries were reported, and crews left the scene by 4:30 a.m.
“We had a heavy storm at the time and had power lines down probably less than mile from there,” Small said. “It was definitely related to the storm.”
Teddy Kulmala: 803-329-4082, @teddy_kulmala
This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 8:47 AM with the headline "Lightning sparks fire at Lancaster shopping center."