A lightning strike during overnight storms caused a fire at a Florence apartment building Thursday morning, Florence Fire Chief Rodney Wren told us.
The fire broke out in a multi-family complex on Rio Grande Circle in Florence.
No one was injured and everyone living in the apartment building was able to self-evacuate safely, Wren said.
The fire impacted eight units in the building; however, in at least one unit, Wren said the roof and floor had caved in.
The Red Cross is working to help people who were displaced from their homes.
Wren said smoke alarms in the building were functioning and sounding when fire crews arrived.
Multiple agencies from surrounding areas responded to the overnight fire, including from Florence, Union and Independence.
In all, Wren said around 10 fire trucks and three ambulances responded to the fire.
