SUMMIT, NJ — A lightning strike is believed to have hit the chimney of a multi-apartment home on Thursday evening, triggering an attic fire that displaced residents in Summit. Fire officials said nobody was hurt, but the building was not cleared for people to return that night.
Residents said the strike came around 6:20 p.m., with bricks blown from the chimney and flames pushing into the attic. The property holds nine apartments, and crews treated the fire as a two-alarm blaze. Dozens of firefighters reached the scene quickly and worked to stop the flames from spreading farther through the structure.
What Officials Said
Fire Chief Brian Harnois said crews were already handling storm-related calls when this fire came in. He said firefighters had been responding to weather emergencies since about 5 p.m. and were on the way to two other calls when the Summit alarm was reported.
Officials said crews arrived within four minutes and contained the attic fire by breaking windows and opening walls and ceilings to reach the flames. Harnois said the size of the home and the number of apartments made the response more complicated because crews had to search the building carefully and confirm that everyone was out safely.
Storm Conditions
Mayor Elizabeth Fagan said the evening weather should have been taken seriously, pointing to flood warnings and tornado watches that had been in place for the previous 24 hours. She said severe weather can turn dangerous without much notice and urged residents to pay attention to National Weather Service alerts.
Residents described the thunderstorm as unusually intense. Tony Harrell said he was in bed watching television when he heard a loud boom and then saw sparks and part of the ceiling come down. Maryanne Sinal said the thunder and lightning were louder than anything she had heard before and made her think the storm had hit something nearby.
What Happens Next
The fire remains under investigation, according to fire officials, and the building was still off-limits Thursday night while the Department of Buildings determined whether it was safe to occupy. That decision will determine when displaced residents can return and whether any repairs must be made before the apartments reopen.
For neighbors and other residents, the immediate takeaway is that storm damage can spread fast in a large building, even when firefighters respond quickly. People who want the official status of the investigation or the building’s safety clearance would need to follow updates from Summit fire officials, city authorities, or the Department of Buildings.
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