Derbyshire storm: Fire crews called to lightning struck house that had wall blown down

Control operators mobilised six fire crews to a property on Blagreaves Lane in Littleover, only minutes before 9.00pm – when it was believed that lightning hit the roof of the property.

Fire crews were unable to use the aerial ladder platform to help fight the fire in the roof of the property as it was deemed too dangerous due to the storm. No one was injured in the incident.

Firefighters left the scene at around 1.15am on Sunday, September 22.

At 8.41pm, firefighters were mobilised to a two-story property believed to have been struck by lightning on Dannah Street in Ripley.

Fire crews from Alfreton and Heanor attended and checked the roof space for any hot spots and isolated the gas and electrics, making the property safe. No one was injured in the incident.

Several properties were also impacted after a lightning strike hit connecting cabling in properties along Jubilee Close in Melbourne.

At 4.51pm, firefighters from Ascot Drive, Nottingham Road and Long Eaton attended several flats that were impacted, losing their electrical supply. One property had an internal wall blown down and a further property was smoke logged.

Firefighters isolated the gas and electricity in the properties and worked with the Local Authority to ensure the safety of residents.

No one was injured in these properties.

At 4.58pm, firefighters from Long Eaton and Kingsway attended a property on Castle Street, also connected to the Jubilee Close flats. There was no visible sign of fire. One elderly lady is believed to have been affected by the lightning strike and was handed into the care of East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Group Manager David Diggins said: “It has been a busy night for the county's emergency services dealing with the impact of a significant thunderstorm.

“Firefighters were mobilsed by our 999 control room operators to several properties believed to have been hit by lightning.

“Due to the severity of the storm and lightning in the area, a decision had to be taken that it was too dangerous to use the aerial ladder platform to fight a fire in the roof of one property in Littleover. Additional fire crews were mobilised to support firefighters working to extinguish the fire from the ground.

“Several flats in Melbourne were also affected when a lightning strike hit cabling that connected the properties. One elderly lady is believed to have been affected by this strike and was handed into the care of East Midlands Ambulance Service understandably shaken by the experience.”