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Two overnight fires in Tampa Bay area possibly caused by lightning

Posted at 5:34 AM, Jul 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-13 08:42:27-04

Lightning is being blamed for two separate fires in the Tampa Bay area overnight. 

On Tuesday night around 10 p.m., a Clearwater family was in bed when they heard the thunder in the area and they say minutes later, their house was on fire. 

Firefighters were able to contain the flames mainly to the roof and attic areas. There were no injuries and the fire did not spread to other homes nearby. 

WEDNESDAY'S FORECAST: Hot, humid and more afternoon/evening thunderstorms

Later that night, around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, another structure fire broke out on Pine Drive in Temple Terrace. This fire appears to have been caused by lightning as well. 

Residents in the condominium complex said their power went out during a storm around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. An owner of one condo, heard her smoke detector and grabbed her cats around 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Firefighters with the Temple Terrace Fire Department assisted by Tampa Fire Rescue responded and put out the fire which was contained to just one unit. 

Officials say the structure was hit by lightning around 8:30 p.m. when the power went out, and it simmered until about 1 a.m. when  the flames broke out. 

The woman and her cats were displaced by the fire. 

Both incidents are under investigation.