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Lightning strike causes grass fire at Wacoochee Elementary School
Colin Scroggins —
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Key takeaways
- Lightning struck power pole at Wacoochee Elementary School, causing transformer explosion and grass fire Tuesday afternoon.
- Fire self-extinguished with no injuries reported; Alabama Power crews responded to the scene.
Firefighters responded to a fire Tuesday afternoon after lightning struck a power pole near a local school.
Salem Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene around 3:58 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, after lightning struck a power pole on the northwest side of the gym at Wacoochee Elementary School, located on Lee Road 254.
The strike caused the pole's transformer to explode and started the grass below the pole on fire, which self extinguished, according to officials.
Crews with Alabama Power company are on the scene. No injuries were reported.
Note: Images sent in by officials and viewers.
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