The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office responded to 14 calls during a 90 minute period during a strong thunderstorm that passed through Crawfordville approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 14.

As the night shift staff prepared for the start of their shift, the dayshift and Criminal Investigations Division stayed out to assist with the coverage of calls.

Several medical calls were covered by sheriff’s office personnel as emergency medical service personnel were stretched thin. The activity began with a traffic crash at the intersection of Arran Road and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Road at the Wakulla County Courthouse. The accident was minor although it created traffic problems prior to a flurry of calls to dispatchers that followed.

During the severe weather two house fires were reported two minutes apart at 4:41 p.m. and 4:43 p.m. at Pimlico Drive and Shoemaker Court, both in Crawfordville.

Nicole A. Green of Crawfordville reported a structure fire as her home on Pimlico Drive was struck by lightning. The victim’s 16-year-old son was also struck by lightning. Wakulla EMS treated the teenager for first and second degree burns on his left arm and released him to his mother without hospitalization.

The cause of the fire was determined to be a lightning strike. The entire structure suffered fire and/or smoke damage. Wakulla County Firefighters were called to put out the blaze. Deputy Vicki Mitchell investigated.

John Devillez of Crawfordville reported a structure fire on Shoemaker Court. Deputy Ward Kromer observed smoke coming from the roof of the residence following a severe thunderstorm. A neighbor reported spotting the smoke and contacted law enforcement. The fire originated in the attic area and smoke spread throughout the house. Two dogs in the yard were removed to a neighbor’s home for safe keeping. No injuries were reported as the Wakulla County Fire Department put out the blaze. Damage to the home was estimated at $272,000.

Shift Captain Bill Poole reported a call of a jogger who suffered an electric shock when lightning struck the ground nearby. Other calls included down power lines, home and business alarms going off and downed trees on roads. There were no deaths or serious injuries related to the storm, he said.