SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Lightning struck a new duplex construction in Spokane Valley Thursday, sparking a fire that prompted emergency crews to cut through the roof to battle the flames, according to fire officials.
Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to the fire near Houk and 12th Avenue after witnesses reported seeing lightning hit the unoccupied structure.
Firefighters cut a hole in the roof to ventilate the building and gain access to the flames, according to the Spokane Valley Fire Department.
Witnesses told fire crews they observed the lightning strike that ignited the fire.
Investigators later identified the location of the lightning strike and determined the strike energized wiring within the structure, sending high voltage throughout portions of the building and igniting a fire in the roof assembly area.
According to investigators, fires directly caused by lightning strikes are extremely uncommon in the region. Since 2019, only four lightning-related home fires have been reported in the Spokane area, with two occurring during last night’s storm.
No injuries have been reported, fire officials said.
The Spokane Valley Fire Department is asking the public to stay away from the area while emergency crews continue their response operations.
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