Lightning strike starts fire at assisted living community, dozens evacuated

Dozens of residents of an assisted living community in Fort Washington, Maryland, were evacuated Thursday after a fire broke out at the apartment building due to a lightning strike.

A spokesperson for Prince George’s County Fire and Rescue said that 75 people were evacuated, but no injuries were reported. It is unclear when residents will be able to return to the building.

The fire began around 6:40 p.m. at the Woodside Village Apartments on the 6800 block of Bock Road.

Zeke Hartner

Zeke Hartner is a digital writer/editor who has been with WTOP since 2017. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University’s Political Science program and an avid news junkie.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up