Crime & Safety

Lightning Strike Damages Home on Dakota Trail

Family of five were sleeping, but escaped unharmed.

Lightning caused an early morning fire in unincorporated Lilburn that displaced a family of five from their home on Dakota Trail.

Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said the two adults and three children were asleep when the lighting and fire hit after 4 a.m. They escaped unharmed.

Rutledge said the incident commander found a defined hole in the backyard, where it is believed the lightning struck before traveling into the home.

Find out what's happening in Lilburn-Mountain Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Firefighters were dispatched at 4:35 a.m. after a 9-1-1 call from the homeowner. The fire was under control at 5:36.
Rutledge said the fire caused heavy damage to the garage, attic and upstairs of the two-story home. Smoke, heat and water damage is throughout the home, he said.

At one point, firefighters were forced out of the house by the intense fire conditions and a partial collapse.

Find out what's happening in Lilburn-Mountain Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This fire demonstrates the powerful energy contained in a lightning strike," Rutledge said in a press release. "We are fortunate that the family was able to escape unharmed.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.