‘It’ll take time, but we’re gonna rebuild’: Chesterfield family of 4 displaced after lightning sparks house fire

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A Chesterfield County family is without a home after lightning struck their attic during a severe thunderstorm Tuesday afternoon, sparking a fire.

Neighbors along Ivytree Terrace told 8News that they heard a loud "boom" just as storms moved through the area the afternoon of Tuesday, July 1.

Katrina Walker, who has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years, said she was inside with her son when they heard the strike.

“I walked into my bedroom and my son was in there watching TV, and we heard it at the same time,” Walker said. “He popped up. His eyes were big. I said, 'Brayden, that had to hit something.'”

Chesterfield County Fire & EMS said firefighters arrived to find flames burning in the attic of the two-story house.

Flames in the attic during a July 1 house fire on Ivytree Terrace in Chesterfield County. (Video: Katrina Walker)

Walker recorded video from her front yard, showing the fire tearing through the roof and leaving a gaping hole.

The impacted homeowner also spoke to 8News. He said his teenage son, who was home alone at the time, was in the same room where the lightning struck.

“The son in the family -- I saw him go back in, and that really kind of shook me -- because you see on TV, people run back in, and that’s when they lose their lives,” Walker said. “But he was concerned about their pets.”

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The teenager made it out safely with the family’s dog.

Firefighters were also able to rescue two cats and two small chickens.

“They had suffered some smoke inhalation,” said Capt. Joe Harvey with Chesterfield Fire & EMS. “We were able to get them out of the house, and then our fire crews administered some oxygen to them and when we left the scene, they were all doing much better.”

Aftermath of a fire sparked by a lightning strike on Ivytree Terrace in Chesterfield County. (Photo: 8News)

The homeowner said the damage is extensive, with many personal belongings and family memorabilia destroyed.

The family is currently staying in a hotel and working to figure out their next steps.

Walker said that, in a moment of crisis, it was heartwarming to see the community come together.

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“Everybody was kind of pulling together and offering them support in one way or another,” she said. “Even if we weren’t able to talk to them, you could just feel that vibe. You could feel that support.”

Chesterfield fire officials are reminding families that dangerous storms can strike at night. They stressed the importance of testing smoke alarms regularly to make sure they’re working properly.