Greenville Firefighters responded Thursday, at 7:01 a.m., to a report of a lightning strike at a residence on College Avenue. According to the fire report, lightning struck a tree in the front yard of the home and caused flat tires on a van parked in the driveway.
Firefighters checked the home with a thermal imaging camera and found no problems. They were on the scene about 45 minutes.
Lightning is also blamed for a fire call answered by Pocahontas-Old Ripley Fire Protection firefighters just before 7:00 a.m. Thursday.
Fire Chief Dennis Lindley reported underground fuel tanks at Funderburk’s 66 Grill and Deli were being filled when static electricity, believed to be caused by a nearby lightning strike, ignited fumes in the ground vent pipe.
Chief Lindley said the fire in the vent pipe was out by the time firefighters reached the scene. He reported there was minimal damage and no one was injured, however the truck driver filling the tank was ‘pretty shaken up.’ Firemen were on the scene approximately 20 minutes.
Greenville Fire District personnel were asked to be on stand-by until Pocahontas-Old Ripley firemen reached the scene to review the situation.
