Lightning Strike Sparked Apartment Fire, 34 Displaced In Hernando County

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL — A lightning strike sparked an apartment fire Wednesday evening, displacing 34 residents and damaging four units, Hernando County Fire Rescue said in a news release.

Firefighters responded to the Authentix Suncoast apartment complex at 432 Coast Drive around 5:45 p.m. after residents reported a lightning strike, smoke in multiple apartments and activated fire alarms.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke inside several apartments of a 24-unit building.

An aggressive fire attack found fire burning between the first and second floors of two apartments, the agency said.

The fire was quickly knocked down while firefighters evacuated the building's remaining 20 units. It was brought under control within 45 minutes of the arrival of the first units.

Twenty-one of the building's 24 units were occupied at the time of the fire.

A total of 34 residents were displaced overnight after power was disconnected throughout the building. Apartment management worked with residents to find temporary housing.

Four units sustained fire, smoke and/or water damage, and are expected to require long-term displacement, HCFR said.

No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

The cause of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike, though the investigation remains ongoing.

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