Hernando County Fire Rescue responds to Brooksville apartment fire sparked by lightning strike

Residents of a 24-unit apartment building experienced overnight displacement and power loss following a lightning strike and subsequent fire.

• •Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to a suspected lightning strike at the Authentix Suncoast apartment complex on Tuesday around 5:45 p.m.
• •The fire occurred in a 24-unit building located at 432 Coast Drive in Brooksville.
• •Flames were discovered trapped between the first and second floors of two apartments.
• •Firefighters brought the fire under control within 45 minutes of arrival.
• •Four apartment units suffered fire, smoke, or water damage.
• •Power was disconnected to the entire 24-unit building, displacing dozens of occupants overnight.
• •Out of 24 total units, 21 were occupied at the time of the fire.
• •Crews evacuated 20 units during the response.
• •No civilians or firefighters were injured during the incident.
• •Management at Authentix Suncoast is working to provide overnight housing for displaced residents.
• •The official investigation into the cause remains ongoing.