Buford fire possibly lightning related

BUFORD - As heavy storms pounded parts of north Georgia Monday afternoon and evening, lightning sparked at least two house fires in our area, the latest in Buford.

According to the Gwinnett County Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge, the call came in around 7:00 p.m. to the 4000 block of Bogan Bluff Lane Northeast.

Rutledge said firefighters found smoke in the attic of the two-story house and got the fire under control prior to 7:30 p.m.

"It appears at this point there is damage to the gable in the attic area. It looks like a direct hit by a lightning strike during a storm this afternoon," he said.

Rutledge said the 911 caller was a passerby who alerted the occupants of the smoke: "The occupants reported a loud boom, a brilliant flash of lightning. There was a knock on the door by a passerby who saw smoke coming from the house that also helped to alert the occupants."

Everyone escaped the house, and no injuries were reported.