Fire in Abington caused by lightning strike, firefighter hospitalized

"The lightning strike was so severe that it created a trench from the base of the tree to the electrical panel in the garage."

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A firefighter was hospitalized after responding to a house fire caused by a lightning strike in Abington, officials said.

Around 5:25 a.m. on Friday, Abington firefighters responded to a report of a possible lightning strike and a building fire at 395 Randolph St., the department said on social media. The entire on-duty crew was already responding to a cardiac arrest in town, the department wrote.

Firefighters discovered heavy fire coming from two sides of the garage and the breezeway to the house, the department said.

All occupants had left the home on their own before the fire department arrived, they said.

The fire was caused by lightning striking a 60-foot pine tree in the backyard.

“The lightning strike was so severe that it created a trench from the base of the tree to the electrical panel in the garage,” the department said.

A firefighter from a neighboring community’s department was transported to the hospital for evaluation for smoke inhalation, the Abington Fire Department said.

While Abington police shut down Randolph Street, a civilian vehicle struck an Abington fire engine, causing minor damage and no injuries, the department said.

Additionally, the owner of a nearby home reported that one of their outside cable was melted and the combination lock on their basement door was singed and melted, the department said.