Lightning is believed to have sparked a blaze that destroyed a house and split a tree on Patterson Loop early Thursday morning.
Flames were still flickering Friday on the site just off Hibanks Road, where the house belonging to Donnie and Renee Crawford once stood.
Three local fire departments — Lawson, Hibanks and El Dorado — responded to the scene at approximately 2 a.m. as thunderstorms rumbled through the area.
Fire crews spent hours fighting the blaze, which, a witness said, was still burning throughout the day Thursday.
Renee Crawford said she and her husband were awakened just before 2 a.m. Thursday by lightning and a loud clap of thunder.
“We knew it had hit something. We figured it was a tree because there are a lot of trees on our property. We went back to sleep,” Renee Crawford said.
Minutes later, the home security alarm system jolted the couple awake.
“I still never thought it was a real emergency. I thought maybe the wind had blown the front door open,” she recalled. “I opened the bedroom door, and I was hit with a wall of black smoke.”
Renee Crawford then told her husband, who ran out another bedroom door that led to the backyard and immediately saw that the roof was ablaze.
The couple quickly grabbed some clothes, their phones and their Schnauzer puppy, Finn, and ran outside, where they called 911, she said.
Renee Crawford noted that it was raining at the time.
A newly purchased Honda Pilot, which was parked in the garage, was also destroyed in the fire.
A nearby tree was believed to have been struck by lightning. The tree was split down the middle and its bark blown off.
“The tree just exploded. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Renee Crawford said. “We don’t know if it was a piece of the tree that flew onto the roof of our house or if it was a separate lightning strike that started the fire.”
Renee Crawford said the couple has received assistance from family, friends and the Union County chapter of the American Red Cross.
She Lawson, Hibanks and El Dorado fire crews for their work in battling the blaze.
“We thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support, and we’re thankful that our Suddenlink home security alarm went off,” Renee Crawford said.
“I hated losing pictures and craft stuff I’ve done with my grand babies, but a lot of that stuff can be replaced,” she said.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.