Holmes Beach plaza building catches fire after being struck by lightning
HOLMES BEACH, Fla. - A fire broke out at a building in a Holmes Beach plaza Thursday morning after it was struck by lightning during intense storms, according to police.
According to the Holmes Beach Police Department, lightning struck the Holmes Beach Business Center in the 5300 block of Gulf Drive.
At around 10:15 a.m., West Manatee Fire and Rescue District responded to the building. They say about 30 minutes before, video showed a lightning strike the building, and witnesses claimed they saw it, as well.
READ: LIVE RADAR: Morning showers, storms rolling through Tampa Bay area
No one was injured in the fire. However, the building did sustain damage, specifically to its roof.
Rodney Kwiatkowski with the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District said about six businesses were impacted by the lightning strike and ensuing fire.
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"We were inundated with water, the streets were flooded; they flood very quickly as you know here on the island, so that did add another level of complication to the response," Kwiatkowski said. "However, we did respond quickly, and the knock down was very quick."
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