Residents managed to escape unscathed after a lightning strike caused a house to catch fire during a thunderstorm.
Following the strike in Emersons Green, Bristol, just before 6pm on Monday, June 22, the roof and first floor of the residence were quickly engulfed in flames. Witnesses described hearing an explosive sound and then observing thick black smoke rising into the air as the fire consumed the building.
A nearby resident commented, “We are in the adjacent street, and the explosion was quite significant. We were aware that something had been struck as soon as it happened, and then we saw the smoke. I am relieved that no one was hurt.”
Videos circulating on social media depicted the roof being consumed by flames and dark smoke billowing into the sky. Firefighters were witnessed using hoses to combat the blaze.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service were notified of the fire around 5.55pm. Upon arrival, the crews found the house ablaze, with multiple fire stations responding to the emergency.
Before the incident, the fire service had cautioned the public about an upcoming period of hot and humid weather that could pose risks to everyone, emphasizing safety measures during such conditions.
The fire was one of several incidents in Bristol and Somerset where lightning strikes caused emergencies attended by Avon Fire and Rescue Service during the thunderstorms on Monday.
The thunderstorms briefly halted the ongoing heatwave, with a yellow weather warning in effect as a band of low pressure traversed the Southwest of England on Monday night, as predicted by the Met Office.
Although the rain has subsided, forecasts suggest temperatures could soar to 45°C by the week’s end, potentially breaking the UK’s highest recorded June temperature of 35.6°C set in 1976.