Crime & Safety
Lightning Strike Hits Vienna Church, Causes Fire
No one was injured when a fire started in the church's attic space, according to the fire department.
VIENNA, VA — A lightning strike sparked a fire at a Vienna church on Wednesday but yielded no injuries, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
Units from Fairfax and Arlington counties responded to the 1000 block of Country Club Drive Northeast around 6:14 a.m. on Wednesday. Firefighters found smoke showing from the roof and worked inside the church and on the roof to get the fire under control.
The church was vacant at the time of the fire. A passerby noticed smoke and a fire alarm before calling 911.
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Fire investigators concluded a lightning strike hit the metal flashing of a skylight, starting the fire in the attic space. The fire department estimated damaged to be around $55,000.
Per fire department policy, the name of the church was not released.
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