Lightning Strikes Carrollwood Apartment Building, Displacing Families

TAMPA, FL — Several families are receiving temporary lodging and other assistance from the American Red Cross after being displaced due to a fire at the Grand Oasis apartments, 3516 Grand Cayman Drive in Carrollwood, Monday morning.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded at 11:14 a.m. Monday after a resident reported white smoke in an apartment.

Firefighters arrived and found smoke coming from the eaves of the three-story apartment building. Firefighters stretched a handline up the stairwell to the third floor and spotted the origin of the fire in a space above the exterior hallway.

Engine 20 quickly put out the fire while other fire crews searched the building for anyone who was overcome by the smoke.

There were no injuries to civilians or first responders.

Fire investigators determined the cause to be a lightning strike Sunday night.