Lightning Strike Sparks Fire at Burlington County Church as Powerful New Jersey Storms Leave Thousands Without Electricity
A powerful round of thunderstorms moving across New Jersey on Friday night caused significant damage after lightning struck a church in Burlington County, leading to a roof fire while severe weather swept through the region.
The fire happened at Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford at around 9:10 p.m. Emergency crews responded after flames were seen coming from the church’s roof. According to the information shared by the church, the building was empty when the lightning strike occurred, and no injuries were reported.
The church later confirmed that everyone was safe because no one was inside the building at the time of the fire. The update also expressed appreciation for the emergency responders who quickly arrived to contain the situation before the flames could spread further.
Firefighters and emergency personnel from more than nine departments worked together to battle the blaze. Their rapid response helped prevent the incident from becoming even more serious. Crews remained focused on bringing the fire under control while protecting nearby areas from additional damage.
The church asked members of the community to keep both the congregation and the emergency responders in their thoughts as recovery efforts begin following the unexpected incident.
The church fire occurred as a strong line of thunderstorms moved across New Jersey Friday evening. The storms brought damaging wind gusts that reached between 60 and 70 miles per hour in some locations, creating hazardous conditions across the state.
The severe weather also caused widespread power outages. By Saturday morning, more than 175,000 New Jersey customers were without electricity as utility crews continued working to restore service following the storms.
Friday night’s weather served as another reminder of how quickly severe thunderstorms can create dangerous situations. While the lightning strike caused considerable damage to the church building, the fact that the facility was empty at the time helped prevent what could have been a much more tragic event.
Emergency responders acted quickly throughout the incident, limiting the impact of the fire while ensuring public safety remained the top priority. Recovery efforts are expected to continue as officials assess the damage left behind by the lightning strike and the powerful storms that affected communities across New Jersey.
Sources
- Fellowship Alliance Chapel (Official Facebook update)
- 6ABC Philadelphia
