HOLMES BEACH, Fla — A lightning strike caught on video caused a fire at a business plaza on Thursday morning in Manatee County.
Nobody was hurt, according to officials.
West Manatee Fire Rescue Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski said crews were dispatched just after 10:30 a.m. to the Holmes Beach Business Center plaza, located off of Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island.
Kwiatkowski confirmed the strike caused the fire based on witness accounts. 10 Tampa Bay then showed him security footage from across the street that captured the lightning strike. He described what he saw as "powerful, powerful video."
"You know, when you hear lightning, we want to take cover. We want to be indoors," Kwiatkowski said. "We're just thankful, again, no one was hurt and the fire is extinguished, and these people will be back in business soon."
Before first responders arrived, Ben Johnson, a witness who works across the street, described hearing a "large explosion sound" before "a bunch of our car alarms" started going off.
The security camera footage that captured the lightning strike came from his workplace. A Tesla's lights can be seen flashing moments after the strike, which is also reflected from the car's windshield.
"We thought it hit the tree, and then about an hour later we noticed there was smoke coming from the roof of the building and within a couple minutes, it was completely up in flames – the whole length of the building," Johnson recalled.
Kwiatkowski said Thursday was the first time this year that they've responded to a building fire caused by lightning.
"It's rare that a lightning strike would cause this, but it happens," he added.
Because of the nature of the call and the size of the building, crews from numerous agencies responded. Along with West Manatee Fire Rescue, crews with Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue, the city of Bradenton and Southern Manatee Fire Rescue were also dispatched.
10 Tampa Bay asked Kwiatkowski if there's any way people can prepare for situations like these.
"Well, you know, there's only so much you can prepare for with an act of God, right?"