Fire that displaced 14 people in Baltimore County was caused by lightning
Fourteen people were displaced, and a dog died after an apartment fire Thursday that Baltimore County Fire officials said was caused by a lightning strike.
The fire occurred around 3:40 p.m. in the 1800 block of Rambling Ridge Lane in Pikesville. Firefighters arrived to find the Twin Ridge Apartment engulfed in flames. The fire left a gaping hole in the roof.
The management company for the apartment, WPM Real Estate, confirmed to WJZ that an employee in the leasing office was one of the residents displaced by the fire. Her puppy was the one that died.
According to WPM, a total of seven families were displaced.
"Crews arrived within minutes, with heavy fire showing throughout the building and through the roof," Baltimore County Fire Spokesperson Travis Francis said.
Francis said that about six minutes before the fire was reported, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for the area.
Firefighters called for a second alarm to get more assistance, according to Francis. A third alarm was issued because of the heat and humidity, bringing nearly 100 firefighters to the scene.
What caused the fire?
Investigators confirmed that a lightning strike sparked the fire.
Baltimore County's Fire Investigation Division used a lightning strike report from Core Logic, which confirmed that a strike occurred directly at the latitude and longitude of 1803 Rambling Ridge Lane.
While one dog died after the fire, Francis said two dogs were rescued.
The displaced families are being assisted by the Red Cross.
"It's very unfortunate," Francis said. "[Residents] are coming home to devastation, but we are going to be here to help them throughout this."
Twin Ridge neighbors react: "It's very unusual."
Francis Kirkland remembers hearing a loud clap of thunder on Thursday afternoon.
"It zapped the TV and the power went out, but just for a couple of minutes," said Kirkland, a longtime Twin Ridge Apartment resident.
Kirkland said she then looked out of her window across the street and saw a flood of emergency crews in the parking lot of the apartment.
"Certainly, I have never known of lightning to strike a building and the building catch on fire. Certainly not where I live," Kirkland said. "It's very unusual."
Lynn Smith told WJZ that she and her partner have lived in the area for more than a decade. She remembers the moments after the lightning hit.
"The lightning blew the entire back of the building off," Smith said.
First responders said no civilians were injured, but two firefighters were taken to a hospital for minor injuries. They have since been released.
"It really does bring to light how fast life can change in just a moment — certainly how Mother Nature is strong and scary," said Kirkland. "Now, what we are talking about is what we can do as a community to help the residents that are displaced."
Management company WPM also said the fire department arrived to the apartment community within minutes and worked quickly to make sure everyone was safe.
"We continue to work closely with fire department officials and the Red Cross to support our residents," a spokesperson for WPM wrote. "In all, seven families have been displaced because of the storm, and we worked with them to immediately find new lodging."