Video shows lightning start a fire at Anna Maria Island shopping plaza, officials say
A lightning strike sparked a fire Thursday morning that knocked out power and damaged businesses at a Holmes Beach plaza, authorities said.
Just after 10:15 a.m., the West Manatee Fire Rescue District responded to a call about a fire at the Holmes Beach Business Center in the 5300 block of Gulf Drive.
About 20 minutes earlier, onlookers told police they saw lightning hit the building, which houses Fun and More Rentals and West Coast Air Conditioning and Heating. The lightning strike was caught on a security camera at a nearby business.
“We’re grateful for the swift and professional response of our firefighters and partnering agencies,” West Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Ben Rigney said in a news release provided to the Bradenton Herald.
No one was hurt by the fire or lightning strike, but police ordered everyone to evacuate the plaza.
A large hole in the roof was part of the damage to the building, authorities said.
An ongoing investigation will determine the extent of the damage and when the affected businesses can reopen.
