Southsea fire crew called to garden bonfire reported as suspected lightning strike
FIREFIGHTERS in Southsea have been scrambled to a suspected lightning strike – which turned out to be a controlled bonfire in a resident’s garden.
The crew from Southsea Fire Station were called out to the fire in Fawcett Road last night.
The called had suspected the fire had been started by a lightning strike falling stormy weather across the area – but firefighters discovered the suspected blaze was a well managed bonfire in a garden.
Crew manager Wayne Goble said: ‘A resident gave us a call because of lightning that's been going on, they thought it was a lightning strike.
‘It’s is really good that people were thinking of that.
‘We were expecting a busy night.’
The firefighter advised people to be vigilant of lightning strikes and to ensure any controlled fires like bonfires as constantly attended.
He said: ‘We gave the resident some advice on controlled burning, what to be mindful of.
‘He had a hose pipe alongside, so it well managed.
‘We were there literally 15 minutes.’