Lightning Strike Causes Basement Fire

After the storms on Sunday moved east, Wentzville firefighters responded to a report of a lightning strike to a residence in the 200 block of East Bless Us Drive in Flint Hill. 

The emergency call came out at 9:39 p.m.  The first fire units arrived on the scene to find a moderate fire in the basement with heavy smoke throughout the house.  The occupants of the home were able to evacuate to safety. 

Fire crews made an aggressive fire attack to the basement. The fire was brought under control within 45 minutes. Due to the rural location of the residence, three alarms were dispatched to the scene to get the firefighters and water tankers needed. Fire units from Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon, New Melle, Central County, Lincoln County and Wright City assisted with the extinguishment of the fire. 

The area of fire origin was located in a store room in the basement near a gas line. The fire was accelerated by a breach in a propane gas line in the basement of the residence.    

The Wentzville Fire District covers 88 square miles of Western St. Charles County and includes the cities of Wentzville, Foristell, Flint Hill, and Josephville; as well as large portions of Lake Saint Louis, Dardenne Prairie and O’Fallon.