Lightning Causes House Fire In Holmdel: PD

Lightning caused a house fire in Holmdel as storms hit the region on Wednesday, police said.

The fire happened at 6:32 p.m. when Holmdel Police Dispatch was advised of a structure fire at a residence on Galloping Hill Road. The resident reported a heavy smoke condition in the residence after a lightning strike.

Holmdel Fire Department immediately responded and located a fire behind the wall in the basement of the residence. The fire was contained to the wall in the basement and extinguished, police said.

The investigation showed that lightning struck a tree on the property and traveled to the base where it encountered a landscape electrical outlet. The lightning traveled through the outlet and into the residence, causing the fire, police said.

The following agencies responded and assisted at the scene: Holmdel Police Department, Holmdel Fire Company #2, Holmdel First Aid Squad, Holmdel Office of Emergency Management, and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office.