By Jeff Lehr
jlehr@joplinglobe.com
Lightning strikes triggered fire calls Friday morning to two addresses in Joplin and two more in Carthage.
The Joplin Fire Department was called at 6:44 a.m. to 214 S. Conner Ave., where a small fire was discovered at a leaking gas meter and was extinguished, according to Keith Stammer, the fire department’s public information officer.
Stammer said lightning had struck a tree at the address, throwing debris into houses to the south at 218 S. Connor Ave. and to the north at 210 S. Connor Ave. The debris also struck a car across the street, he said. The debris from the lightning strike broke a window at 218 S. Connor Ave.
At 7:29 a.m., firefighters were called to 314 N. Wall Ave., where a vacant house had been struck by lightning as thunderstorms continued to roll through the Joplin area. There was heavy smoke and flames coming from a vacant house at the address as firefighters arrived, Stammer said.
The fire was extinguished and the roof of the house ventilated, Stammer said. Carl Junction and Redings Mill fire departments assisted on the second call, he said. The owner of the vacant house was listed as Scott Vorhees.
No injuries were reported at either Joplin location.
The Carthage Fire Department also responded to lightning-strike calls at 7:21 a.m. and 11:25 a.m.
Capt. Tom Nixon of the Carthage Fire Department said the first call concerned a two-story, frame house northwest of Carthage at 19080 Jolly Lane.
“The lightning struck a valley in the roof, where there was metal flashing, and ran down the valley and caught the attic on fire,” Nixon said.
The Dustin Smith family got out of the home on their own and no injuries were reported. Nixon said the fire caused damage to the attic, and a garage ceiling and light smoke and water damage to other parts of the house.
A second strike four hours later at a house owned by Tony Smith at 1327 S. Baker St. in Carthage caused no fire, Nixon said. Lightning struck an eyebolt for a cable connection on the outside of the house, he said. No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported, he said.
