Charleroi business struck by lightning

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Model Cleaners in Charleroi was struck by lightning Wednesday.
Charleroi fire Chief Robert Whiten Jr. said the call – thankfully – was reported at 7:56 a.m.
When lightning struck the roof of the building, located on the 100 block of Third Street, electricity briefly went out in neighboring buildings, including the fire department.
“We lost our base radio, our fax machine, the scanner and a few portables,” Whiten said. “They have surge protectors, but it was too much and they took a hit.
“Thankfully we had an extra radio and got the call or else we never would have.”
Whiten said employees at the business told first responders when the lightning hit it sounded like “the entire building was coming down” and they ran outside.
When firefighters quickly arrived at the business, half of the building was without power and the other only had a handful of lights still on.
“It hit pretty hard,” Whiten said.

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