SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Upstate fire crews are urging residents to stay safe during the summer storm season, following a lightning strike that sent 15 people to the hospital in Lexington County Tuesday evening.
The incident comes during Lightning Safety Week, a time when Boiling Springs Fire Department Chief Scott Miller stresses the importance of staying alert as storms can develop without warning.
“The summertime has a very high propensity for thunderstorms and lightning storms that just pop up out of the blue,” said Miller.
That’s exactly what happened Wednesday evening. A sunny day on the water quickly turned dangerous when lightning struck unexpectedly, forcing boaters like Chad Blotner to seek shelter.
“We checked radar before we came out. Everything looked nice and then as we were out there, it just started getting really windy and we decided to dock up somewhere. Check the radar and decided to come in,” said Blotner, a recreational boater.
Chief Miller emphasized that when lightning strikes, staying outdoors is not safe.
“So you need to go indoors. Going to a tree to get out of the rain during a thunderstorm or an electrical storm is the wrong answer. A tree will not keep you safe outdoors,” said Miller. He added, “The best thing to do is to go back to your car.”
At the very least, get off the water and return to shore.
The lightning strike at Lake Murray sent several people to the hospital. While there were no life-threatening injuries, Miller said the event should serve as a serious reminder.
“It’s a life-threatening threat to the point that South Carolina High School League has told schools if you’re having an event, everyone has to leave the stadium,” said Miller.
Officials say if someone is struck by lightning, the first step is to call 911. If available, use a nearby defibrillator until emergency responders arrive.
Fire officials suggest planning your shelter areas ahead of time in case of a pop-up storm at your destination.
