Lightning Strikes Damage a White County Home and Barn Wednesday

CLEVELAND, Ga. — White County Administrative Firefighter Ana Newberry reported that lightning strikes that accompanied the heavy storms that swept through the area Wednesday caused two area fires, one to a home, the other to a barn.

At 11:39 a.m. a caller at 723 Albert Reid Road advised their barn was hit by lightning and was fully involved. White County Fire Stations 2, 5 and 6 responded along with the City of Cleveland.

The barn, which contained antique tractors and several bales of hay but no animals was a total loss but no injuries were reported. Newberry said firefighters were on the scene for 3 1/2 hours.

About an hour later, homeowners at 313 Pratton Drive advised their house had been struck by lightning. Fire Stations 2,3 and 4 were dispatched.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that lightning blew out the breaker panel. They removed parts of the ceiling in order to extinguish the insulation that was burning.

The electrical wiring in the home is a total loss as the lightning appears to have hit the front porch light and traveled the electrical wires, ending in the breaker panel. No injuries were reported. Firefighters were on scene for approximately 2 hours.