Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, July 19, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Severe storms hit central Indiana on Wednesday evening, bringing with them strong wind, heavy rain, hail and intense lightning.
Daniel Miller of WISH TV reports that some of that wind and lighting is being blamed for several house fires and damage in Johnson, Marion and Hamilton counties.
At Britton Falls by Del Webb in Fishers, fire crews were called to put out a fire after they said a house was struck by lighting during the severe storm. The home on Merlot Lane sustained visible damage on the roof, and several tarps were protecting the inside from rain.
In Marion County on the south west side, people who live in the Valley Brook Mobile home park said strong winds were to blame for destroying the roof of a trailer on Denver Street. No one was home during the storm.
In Johnson County, in the Center Grove area, the Bargersville Fire Department said a home on Waterside Court was struck by lighting . The homeowner said his wife and son were inside the home when lightning hit.
"They heard a loud bang and then beeping noise afterwards and thought because of the rain and the storm that the backup sump pump had gone off," said Paul O'Neill. "My son went down to investigate, said he smelled smoke. I thought the sump pump shorted out, and I told him I was coming home. And within a couple minutes of me leaving the office, he called back and said, 'The house is on fire.'"
Bargersville Fire Chief Jason Ramey said crews were already on the way to the area.
"Most of our alarms were initiated by that same lightning strike, so we had companies already en route to the area when we were alerted to this fire," he said.
Not long after checking out the fire in Center Grove, firefighters in Franklin, where putting out two mobile home fires.
It happened on Hospital Road at Countryview Mobile Home Park. Investigators said the fire started in a shed sitting between the mobile homes. No word Wednesday night on a definite cause. Firefighters said the residents inside were able to escape.
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