MARRIOTTSVILLE, Md. — As a powerful storm system moved through the region early Tuesday morning, lightning struck a Marriottsville home and sparked a very damaging fire.
Firefighters got on the scene just after 5 a.m. on Homeland way, near Frederick and Marriottsville roads. More than 40 firefighters responded from Howard and Carroll counties.
One of the firefighters sustained sprains and strains when part of the roof collapsed and was evaluated at a hospital. Nobody else was injured.
“The residents had evacuated the house prior to the fire department arriving, so there are no civilian injuries,” said Howard County Fire Department Battalion Chief Stephen Hardesty.
“It was incredibly scary,” said neighbor Donna Mitchell. “The whole roof was totally ablaze; I really thought it was going to spread.”
During the storm, quarter-sized hail fell in Columbia. In Loudoun County, Virginia, several trees came down.
