Lightning Strikes Church in Cranston, Causing Fire

CRANSTON, RI—Thunderstorms brought torrential rain and a barrage of nonstop lightning for more than an hour on Friday, including one strike that hit a church, causing a fire.

Firefighters were at the scene of People's Baptist Church at the intersection of Park and Elmwood Avenues after a reported lightning strike.

The strike sparked a two-alarm fire, according to reports.

More than 3,128 Rhode Island National Grid customers were without power as of 6:45 p.m., according to the utility company. The majority were located in Cranston where the storms concentrated much of their force Friday evening. Storms have been training over the area, meaning the same spot has been facing round after round of storms.

Along with a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, the National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning due to the rainfall. It will expire at 7:45 p.m.

Fires were also reported in Scituate, Coventry and East Providence as a result of lightning strikes.