Marion County firefighters rushed to the scene on Thursday afternoon after a local residence caught on fire following a lightning strike.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., Marion County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to a home in the 5000 block of SE 24th Place in Ocala due to reports of a structure fire. Neighbors had contacted 911 to report that the house was struck by lightning, and heavy smoke and flames were visible.
Multiple MCFR suppression units, along with Ocala Fire Rescue Battalion Chief and Engine 7, arrived at the residence to extinguish the fire.
The crews worked quickly to put out the fire, and some of the homeowner’s possessions were saved.
The cause of the fire has been deemed a witnessed lightning strike.