Severe weather conditions over the weekend left a family of five homeless in Gaithersburg.
A strong storm system with winds and heavy rain led a family home to be struck by lightning, according to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service.
Firefighters dispatched to the scene at the 9200 block of Warfield Rd. around 7 a.m. Saturday as the roof was blazing. Responding crews discovered a thick black smoke rising from the house as flames were shooting from the roof.
According to the fire and rescue service, lightning originally struck the house at around 5 a.m., but the family wasn’t aware of the house’s condition until later.
The estimated damage done to the house is around $850,000.
All five occupants were removed from the scene without injury.
In Silver Spring, a family of six escaped their home at around 5:16 a.m. Monday as it caught on fire.
MCFRS responded to the scene on the 14800 block of Maydale Court. Fire and rescue crews removed the whole family without any injury.
The cause of this fire is currently under investigation.
According to the county’s homeowner’s insurance policies, fires caused by lightning are covered. For more information visit this website.
