Lightning Fires in Indiana: Wind Farms Are at Greater Risk of Lighting Strikes

More than 3 million lightning strikes occurred in Indiana in 2023, making Indiana 21st in the nation for this danger.

In fact, several strikes resulted in lightning fires throughout Indiana in 2023 and 2024.

In February, a lightning strike likely caused two natural gas fires at homes across the street from each other in Floyd Knobs. According to a post on the WDRB website, one of the fires was found to have started in the basement ceiling after a a natural gas line ruptured.

In May, a home in Fort Wayne caught fire after being struck by lightning, and in July 2023, a house and more than 16 apartments in Indianapolis were damaged after lightning struck an attic in the complex, causing a fire.

According to the Vaisala National Lightning Detection Network, wind farms were found to be at a greater risk of lightning damage. As posted in an article on WISH-TV, the network’s study found that more than 77,000 lightning strikes occurred at or near 1,500 wind farms in the United States in 2023.

This fact may help explain why Indiana has a higher-than-average number of lightning strikes. A significant number of wind farms can be found in northern and central regions of Indiana, as its flat terrain and strong wind resources make it a favorable location for wind energy production.

While that’s great news for the environment, it means homeowners and farmers should take extra precautions to protect themselves and their property.

In order to prevent lightning strikes and subsequent lightning fires, Indiana homeowners and business owners can take the following precautions:

• Unplug appliances when they are not in use. Appliances that are plugged in increase the risk for fires, and if lightning does strike your property, the appliances would contribute to a higher risk of fire.
• Hire an electrical contractor to install a whole-home surge protector.
• Ground your home and property for lightning, which will require assistance from a professional contractor. When grounding a house or property for lightning protection, a direct path is created for the electrical energy from a lightning strike to safely travel into the ground, thereby reducing the risk of damage. An electrical contractor can install a lightning protection system, which includes the following:
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  • Lightning rods to intercept a lightning strike
  • Conductors to provide a path for the electricity to travel safely
  • Grounding electrodes, which are metal rods that are driven into the earth, where the electrical energy from a lightning strike can be dissipated.
  • Bonding to ensure that all metallic systems within the structure, such as plumbing and electrical wiring, are electrically connected, reducing the risk of side flashes.

But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, Mother Nature will take over. There is no foolproof way to prevent lightning fires. In the event of a lightning fire, the first step is to get out safely and then call 911.

Once the immediate dangers are over and you have assessed the extent of the damage, you may find that the home is still habitable. If that’s the case, however, you may need board-up services, clean-up services after the fire, smoke smell removal and then structural rebuilding. If your home or business has been damaged by lightning, contact us for board-up or repair and remediation services by sending us a message through our website or calling 260-217-0295.