JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two downtown duplexes were damaged by fire when lightning struck a power pole during severe storms Monday afternoon.
Jacksonville firefighters were called to the 700 block of Eaverson Street just after 3:30 p.m.
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Firefighters said when lightning struck the pole, power lines were knocked down and electricity ignited two water heaters in two duplexes.
The Red Cross said it was assisting two adults and two children displaced by the fire.
Tashella Smith, who owns one of the homes, said she was at the doctor's office when the fires started.
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"Apparently, we've lost everything," Smith said. "If it's not fire damage, it's water damage. But I'm not worried about it. God is good to us. He's always been good to me, and I know he'll see me through this the same way he saw me through everything else."
Neighbors said they heard loud popping sounds from the strike.
"It was going 'boom, boom' everywhere," witness Adam James said. "I was in my buddy's house, and it just went right by my ear. The fire from the electrical box went all over my back. I had to roll over, and we jumped up out the house because we got scared. We thought the whole house was on fire."
No one was injured.