Storms damage homes in Plano, firefighters investigate eight suspected lightning strikes

Plano Fire investigated eight suspected lightning strikes around town after storms damaged multiple homes across Collin County, sending crews to check for attic fires, roof damage and electrical surges. Officials believed lightning was the likely cause in several of the cases, turning a fast-moving storm into a house-by-house fire and damage review.

More than 900 lightning strikes were recorded in a short period on a Friday, and other North Texas cities also dealt with house fires tied to the storm burst. In Plano, early signs pointed to attic damage in some of the fires, a warning because lightning can smolder above the living space before flames show up inside a home. No injuries were reported in the fire cases linked to the wider weather pattern.

One of the hardest-hit homes was the long-time Plano house of Tom and Linda Murphy, where a lightning strike caused severe damage and started a repair process that could take six to nine months. That kind of timeline can mean roof work, interior rebuilding and replacement of wiring or other systems before a home is fully safe again.

Homeowners who were near the storm path should check breakers, outlets, internet equipment, HVAC systems and other electronics for surge damage, along with the attic, roofline and ceilings for scorch marks, warped material or a burnt smell. If a breaker keeps tripping, a light fixture flickers after the storm, or the attic feels unusually hot, the safest move is to have it inspected before using it again.

The City of Plano keeps emergency warnings and preparedness information through Plano Emergency Management, which puts severe-weather guidance in the same place residents turn when storms move across Collin County. Eight suspected lightning incidents around town show how quickly one storm line can spread damage across a suburban grid of roofs, wiring and closely packed homes.