Swift action from crews and members of the public helped to contain a severe fire caused by a lightning strike.
At 4.32pm on Monday, 21 May, Thames Valley Fire Control Service received multiple reports of a fire at a garage, following a lightning strike in Thatcham.
Two crews from Newbury Fire Station and one crew from Dee Road Fire Station were sent to the property in Justice Close.
On arrival, firefighters found a double garage on fire, which was spreading towards an adjoining property. Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using two hose reels.
Crews forced entry into the smoke logged property to ensure the fire had not spread into the residence, and remained on scene for about one hour and a half.
Station Manager, Steve Beard who attended the incident, said: “The damage to the garages was considerable and without prompt action from the crews and members of the public that reported it, the fire would have spread to adjoining properties.”
“Although lightning strikes don’t happen very often, when they do, they can initiate severe damage and rapid fire spread.”
“Following a fire of this type, we would recommended a professional checks the integrity and safety of any systems that may have been affected.”