NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – Crews responded Thursday to lighting-related fires across the North Strand and one Horry County man is recounting the scary moments his house was hit.

North Myrtle Beach Fire Chief Billy Floyd said the scenes were each at 33rd Avenue North, 7th Avenue South, and 13th Avenue South. He noted the homes at 33rd Avenue North and 7th Avenue South were both hit by lightning.

One of the homeowners, Bill Brucks spoke to WMBF News about the moments after his house was struck.

“All I saw was just the biggest flash of white, and the loudest explosion,” said Bruck.

At the time, he was home with his 93-year-old mother. He said lightning struck as he was in the kitchen as they were making dinner.

“The next thing I knew I was flying backward in the kitchen, four feet from the refrigerator,” said Bruck. “I said, ‘Mom, we just got hit!’”

Bruck said he opened the attic door and saw fire and quickly evacuated the house with his mom.

“I opened up that attic door, and orange flames were licking on the inside of the roof already,” he said. “My next-door neighbor was outside and I yelled to him ‘Call 911. Call 911. Now! We’re on fire! We’re on fire!’”

Bruck’s neighbor, Chris Williams caught videos of the house fire and the moments after fire crews were able to put it out, spreading smoke across the neighborhood.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THE VIDEO

“It was the loudest explosion I think I’ve ever heard in my life,” said Williams. “It was total shock. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

Bruck said his mom has lived in the home for more than 40 years and now they have more questions than answers as to what their next steps will be.

“I don’t even know in the next 24 hours, what’s going to come about,” he said.

Bruck’s home wasn’t the only house to see damage following Thursday’s storm.

The North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue took to Facebook to break down the 33rd Avenue North, 7th Avenue South, and 13th Avenue South incidents:

• The 33rd Ave N. incident was a working attic fire with damage to the 2nd floor of the home as well. The home suffered significant fire damage. Occupants were home at time of the incident but able to escape without injuries.
• The 7th Ave S. incident was an electrical short in one of the smoke detectors following the power surge/indirect strike but resulted in no other damage. The homeowner was present and uninjured.
• The 13th Ave S. incident involved a tree that appeared to have been struck by lightning that fell onto a vehicle in the driveway and also ripped the weather head and service line from the home. It also appeared the lightning strike impacted the electrical wiring in the home creating an electrical surge resulting in damaging the hot water heater causing a smoky haze within the home before power was secure at the breaker by FD. Occupants were home and all escaped with no injuries.

The agency’s full post is embedded below:

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