Several Derbyshire homes affected after lightning strike cuts off power
An internal wall in one property fell after the weather event
Last updated 22nd Sep 2024
Several homes in a Derbyshire town were left without power after a lightning strike hit power lines.
On Saturday afternoon, fire and rescue services were first alerted to issues after lightning struck at around 4:51pm.
Following the weather event, responders were called to a flat block on Jubilee Close in Melbourne after a power surge resulted in several homes losing power. As well as this, one house had an internal wall fall.
A second house was also impacted after becoming filled with smoke following the strike, though no one was injured in the callouts.
Seven minutes later, officers were deployed to a property on Castle Street, which was also connected to the Jubilee Close block of flats.
Officers entered the property and found no visible fire, though an elderly woman required medical attention and was seen to by the East Midlands Ambulance Service.
Speaking on the incidents, Group Manager David Diggins from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said emergency services were out in full force during the course of the thunderstorm.
"Firefighters were mobilised 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."