Multiple fire departments responded to an apartment building in the 1400 block of East Crossings Parkway in Westlake Friday afternoon after a lightning strike sparked a fire on the roof.
News 5 Anchor Damon Maloney was on the scene and saw flames and smoke coming from the roof of one of the buildings and was able to capture the video below:
Witnesses told Maloney they heard loud thunder, saw lightning, and smelled "electricity in the air" before rushing out of their homes and seeing the flames.
Westlake firefighters said the humidity and high air temperatures outside hampered efforts to combat the blaze. Mutual aid was called in, and crews from Bay Village, Rocky River, Fairview Park, Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville and Lakewood all responded.
A total of 22 residents were displaced by the fire. They are being assisted by the Red Cross.
No residents were injured, authorities said. One Westlake Police officer was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Authorities continue to investigate.
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