Lightning strike deemed cause of Buckingham Presbyterian Church fire

A lightning strike has been determined to be the cause of the fire at Buckingham Presbyterian Church on Friday night. According to the Tice Fire Protection and Rescue Service District on Tuesday, the fire at the church on Buckingham Road was caused by a direct lightning strike during a storm that moved through the area. Investigators said the church property was struck by lightning at 6:30 p.m., and during the storm, two lightning strikes occurred on the property while 15 total strikes occurred within two miles. The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire was based on scene information, weather data and lightning strike analysis, according to the fire district. The fire was seen by a person driving by the church and reported to emergency services at 10:25 p.m., the news release said. In addition, officials said there was a significant amount of time during which the fire burned unchecked before it was discovered. Crews responded to the scene and worked to bring the fire under control. The fire district said details regarding injuries, damage or operation timelines are not being released at this time. A large law enforcement presence was in the area that night, and Buckingham Rd. was shut down for hours before reopening Saturday morning. On Saturday morning, the fire reignited, so crews returned to extinguish the fire and address hot spots. Dozens of church members gathered on Sunday for service outdoors with lawn chairs and furniture. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.