Hialeah Apartment Complex Severely Damaged By Lightning Strike

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HIALEAH (CBSMiami) – Hialeah residents say a huge lightning bolt lit their apartment complex ablaze Wednesday, severely damaging it and leaving several people displaced.

"We are 99 percent sure it was an electrical strike to the roof," said Capt. Cesar Espinosa.

Hialeah firefighters were on scene in six minutes.

It was a massive challenge as the fire spread quickly across the apartments on the top floor which share a common attic.

"About 3:45 I heard a lot of lightning. Ten minutes later I saw the smoke," said Oscar Velesquez.

Residents swung into action, helping firefighters evacuate the apartments.

"We started evacuating as soon as possible. I put on the fire alarm and I rushed everyone out," said Esteban Torrens.

Fortunately nobody was hurt, though one lady was treated for shortness of breath.

Four apartment units were heavily damaged.

"I knew that we were going to lose everything," said Yeomy Barrera.

Fire, smoke and water damage took it all, leaving a total of 16 people displaced.

It's a stark reminder that Florida is the lightning strike capital of the United States.