Fire Caused by Lightning

5/31/2019 (Permalink)

When you think about how a fire may start, what first comes to mind? A stove burner left on, a clogged dryer vent, or faulty wiring? All of these instances are common. But what about lightning? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), local fire departments in the United States responded to an average of 22,600 fires that were started by lightning—this data was gather between 2007 and 2011. While uncommon, they do happen, and especially around the summer months. In fact, fires caused by lightning strikes are most common between the months of June and August, taking place between late afternoon and evening.

Because our homes are made of wood and other highly flammable materials, they can be easily ignited by a lightning strike. This will often take place in the attic or roof of a home; this is because the lightning channel must pass through the roof to get to the conductive materials, such as piping and wires within our walls and ceilings. While it is most common for the fires to start on the roof or in the attic, if lightning travels through a home’s wiring system, fires can start anywhere.

If your home is struck by lightning, you will want to immediately call the fire department in case of a fire. Because lightning can travel through your home internally via pipes and wires, an ignited fire may not be outwardly apparent. This is why it is safer to have the fire department on their way to not only put out a possible fire, but to make sure your home is not at risk of a fire. In fact, it may be a good idea to contact an electrician to make sure that your wiring was not damaged by the lightning strike.

While fires caused by lightning are rare, it is still important to always be prepared!