Lightning and Its Fire Risk to Your Residence

7/27/2021 (Permalink)

A sudden bolt of electricity has immediate consequences upon touching your home. Everything it passes through is at risk for becoming a house fire.

Where there’s a lightning strike, there’s likely going to be fire. Your home in Coconut Creek, FL can be affected by one during stormy weather. When a bolt with a five-digit temperature comes in contact with your building’s materials, a lightning fire is unavoidable. Knowing the risks of this weather event and its scope helps you be prepared to stop its worst outcomes.

The Dangers of Lightning Striking Your Home

The sudden bolt of electricity has immediate consequences upon touching your home. It can cause fire in multiple ways during its extremely quick journey:

• Roof or attic catching fire from the direct hit of heat
• Wires carrying the bolt and igniting
• Electrical devices receiving a surge and sparking to ignite nearby flammables
• Debris falling and knocking over open flames from candles used during power outages

The strike will travel through most of your home while pathing towards the ground. Everything it passes through is at risk for becoming a house fire.

Your Entire House Is at Risk of Fire

While it may come as a shock to have it strike your home, you should immediately start looking for warning signs of imminent danger. If you see smoke or smell a burning scent, you should contact your fire department immediately while doing what you can to safely contain the lightning fire.

Lightning Indirectly Causes Home Fires Too

Lightning doesn’t have to precisely strike your house to become a fire risk. When striking a neighbor’s home or outdoor greenery, the fire remains a risk to your own home. In woodland areas, it can cause wildfires that creep towards neighborhoods while being difficult to contain.

Its Damage Can Be Undone

A strike will definitely be a surprise if it hits your home. Damage will be done without much you can do to prevent it. Fortunately, a professional fire damage restoration crew can treat the aftermath of a lightning fire to restore your home to as it was before the damage. By knowing where to look and what to expect, you can minimize damage and maximize the chance of restoration.