Just before 6:30pm Conroe Fire was dispatched to a reported lightning strike in the 10900 block of Forest Creek off FM 830. The caller stated lightning had struck a shed in his backyard and it was on fire along with multiple explosions. Moments later another call from the 10900 block of Sunflower reporting the same thing except the shed was in that callers backyard. Units arrived on Forest Creek to find two storage sheds with fire visible. As they started their attack they found a natural gas line was also involved and had fire coming out of the ground. With several houses close by the Conroe’s Deputy Chief called for additional tankers from North Montgomery County Fire, Lake Conroe Fire and Montgomery Fire. The subdivision has only two fire hydrants in the very front of it. Crews attempted to extinguish the blaze but were hampered by the gas. Centerpoint Energy arrived on the scene and after tracking the two-inch main line down were able to dig down and cap it over a block away. After the gas finally bled off crews were able to completely extinguish the blaze. According to the Conroe Fire Marshal, initial investigation shows that the lightning hit a tree, splitting it in two. The energy the ran down the root structure melting the plastic two-inch line and setting it on fire. A stripe in the grass could be seen the entire length of the gas line. Crews are working through the night to repair the line. The fire was finally declared under control about 11:15pm, some five hours from the initial response. Both sheds were destroyed, there were no injuries.
