Lightning Sparks Water Works Electrical Fire

June 12, 2008

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An apparent lighting strike sparked an electrical fire Wednesday afternoon at a well house belonging to the Walnut Hill Water Works. The fire, in the 8000 block of Highway 97 just north of Wiggins Lake Road, was reported just after 3:00 by a passerby.

The fire was confined to the power meter and electrical box on the outside of the building. The outside of the concrete block structure was blackened by the fire, but was otherwise undamaged.

The water system’s 699 customers are also served by a well at a water tower at Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road, and by a well at a water tower in Enon. The temporary loss of the well at Highway 97 near Wiggins Lake Road is not expected to adversely affect the water system.

The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department was able to quickly extinguish the small fire in the meter box using a fire extinguisher.

Pictured above: A small fire burns in the meter box at a Walnut Hill Water Works well house on Highway 97 just north of Wiggins Lake Road following an apparent lightning strike. Pictured below, top: A fireman uses a fire extinguisher to put out the small fire. Pictured below, middle: The outside of the building as the meter burns. Pictured bottom: The charred remains of the wiring inside the meter box. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.

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