Lightning Strike Causes Fire in Jackson County

A loud noise and then the sound of sirens.
That’s all witnesses in one small Ocean Springs neighborhood experienced before they were forced out of their homes.
“I heard the lightning strike and it blew some of the breakers in the house, and then it was within a matter of minutes here come the fire trucks and about four or five cop cars coming down,” said Barbara Massey.
The lightning strike had hit a residential gas line on Mallory Road.
Resulting in a fire neighbors could see throughout the neighborhood.
The Jackson County Fire Department responded to the call. When they arrived, they found a fire being fueled by natural gas.
Fire officials immediately called utility services to turn off the gas service. Fortunately, the homeowners weren’t home and no injuries were reported.
Although tragedy was avoided, things could have been much worse.
“But if the gas mains themselves were leaking then you have the potential for gas getting into area homes. And then you could have the potential for fire and explosions.”