Enschede lightning strike results in fire at five homes; No injuries reported

Five homes were damaged as a result of a fire which came after a lightning strike in Enschede on Wednesday, Brandweer Twente reported. Four homes on the Floressstraat and one home on the Suze Groeneweglanden were damaged as a result of the fire. There were no injuries.

The homes were struck by lightning at around noon. The fire department had contained the fire quite quickly after appearing at the scene. Grid management company Enexis is now looking into the electrical installations in the homes.

The lightning strike led to a loud bang, which could be heard by everyone on the block. The fire department said that some asbestos was released as a result of the fire. “This has been limited to the property itself. A plan is being drawn up to safely clean up the released material. The parties involved will be informed about this,” a spokesperson told Tubantia.

The railway barriers on Oldenzaalsestraat were closed due to the lightning strike. In addition, traffic lights at the intersection of Kuipersdijk with J.J. van Deinselaan and Wethouder Beversstraat are also out of service.

These were not the only buildings to be damaged as a result of a fire on Wednesday. An office on the Einsteinweg in Hellevoetsluis, Zuid-Holland, was destroyed by a large fire, the safety region reported. The building housed, among other things, a company for landscaping equipment and a parcel service. People were able to leave the building in time. There were no injuries.

Nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution because there was a risk that the fire would spread. The fire department was able to prevent this situation from occurring.

The fire department had rushed to the scene with several Fire and Water vehicles and many firefighters. The building had to be destroyed with a crane in order for the firefighters to put the fire out adequately.

The industrial estate where the fire raged was closed for several hours. The smoke plume was visible from far away and was quickly dispersed by the strong wind. Nearby residents were warned to keep their windows and doors closed, turn off their ventilation system, and keep away from the smoke.