FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A family in Farmington Hills woke up to a scare Monday morning after an apparent lightning strike started a fire at their home.
The Farmington Hills Fire Department got a call about a fire at the home on Morningview Street off Middlebelt Road around 5 a.m., according to fire officials at the scene. The homeowners were reportedly sleeping when the lightning struck between the first and second floor, shattering two windows and tripping several breakers in the home.
Firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes to find the back side of the home on fire. They were able to put it out within minutes and neither first responders nor the home’s occupants — which included two adults and two children — suffered any injuries.
Farmington Hills Fire Marshal Jason Baloga says fire investigators are still on the scene and working with the family to ensure the home is safe to return to.
Baloga also commended the family for calling 911 right away and waiting for first responders in a safe location outside, noting the importance of having a plan in place both for severe weather and in case of fire.
“Having a weather-related plan for severe storms is very important,” Baloga told WDIV. “For fires, the best thing you could ever do is have a working smoke alarm. It protects people, it protects our first responders, and the Farmington Hills Fire Department provides them free for residents; call our fire prevention line and we will install them for free.”