Lightning strike causes estimated $750,000 worth of damage to BR home

BATON ROUGE, LA (NBC33) — Imagine coming home to find your house engulfed in flames with firefighters battling the blaze? One Baton Rouge family experience just that this afternoon and the cause of the fire seems to be a lightning strike.

The Baton Rouge Fire Department reports that the incident occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. at a home on West Woodgate Court. Neighbors told investigators they heard a loud “boom” and then saw flames coming from the home a short time after. Investigators say there are indicators that lightning was the cause.

Although no one was home at the time the fire started, we’re told the family returned while firefighters were still on scene.

It only took a half-hour before the blaze was extinguished. However, the home is being considered a total loss with an estimated loss of $750,000.

EMS did treat a firefighter for head exhaustion at the scene.