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Lightning strike sparks apartment fire, 74 residents displaced

Posted at 11:35 PM, Aug 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-23 15:55:36-04

A lightning strike caused a two-alarm apartment fire in Washington County Tuesday night.

The fire displaced 74 residents at the Woodbridge Apartments, a 37-unit apartment building located at 11565 Robinwood Drive, just outside Hagerstown.

Investigators determined that lightning struck the roof of the building just after 8 p.m., igniting the roof and the attic. Both the roof and the attic collapsed into the third floor.

All residents were able to escape. An elderly woman was taken to the hospital for a pre-existing medical condition and has since been treated and released, according to the State Fire Marshall.

It took approximately 100 firefighters about 90 minutes to bring the blaze under control. The first and second floors sustained extensive water damage, fire officials said.

There are no reported injuries or deaths, officials said.

The Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants.