Firefighters said a lightning strike sparked a residential fire in the 4000 block of Somerset Ridge on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Cahaba Valley Fire and EMR District, emergency crews were dispatched shortly before 2:30 p.m. to the two-story residence, where they found no visible signs of fire on the exterior. Firefighters from unit B188 conducted a 360-degree walkaround of the structure, while crew members from E181 entered the home and proceeded to the attic. There, the fire department said it discovered a softball-sized hole caused by the lightning strike and a small fire, which was quickly extinguished. As additional crews arrived, they assisted in extinguishing the fire and checking for any areas of fire extension. During this process, the fire department said another small area of fire was found and extinguished. Crews deployed salvage tarps to collect debris and minimize further damage to the home.
