Blaze Erupts At Gwinnett Sonny's BBQ Due To Lightning Strike

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A Duluth Highway barbecue chain caught fire Tuesday, and fire officials say lightning was the cause.

Firefighters responded around 8:15 p.m. to Sonny's BBQ. The restaurant's manager, who evacuated the building, reported seeing smoke and flames, according to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services.

The manager was initially notified of the fire after a drive-thru customer told them about smoke coming from an outside wall, fire officials said. Thereafter, fire officials said staff members saw smoke and flames coming from an inside wall near the ceiling.

Fire officials said the manager then called 911 and began an evacuation.

When first responders arrived, they saw flames coming from the restaurant's roof, fire officials said. After crews worked to combat the blaze, they conducted a search and rescue to confirm a safe evacuation, fire officials said.

No one was injured in the fire, which was deemed an accident caused by a lightning strike, fire officials said.

"This fire reminds us of the importance of fire safety in the workplace," fire officials said in a news release.