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Lightning strikes twice in Grand County

Lance Maggart
lmaggart@skyhidailynews.com

It was a busy weekend once again for Grand County first responders as a series of lightning strikes on Friday evening, Aug. 14, sent EMS and firefighters to two separate locations in the county.

A 28-year old female was struck by lightning at around 6 p.m. Friday evening. The woman was struck on her shoulder while in the Green Ridge Day Use picnic area on the shores of Shadow Mountain Reservoir.

The Grand County Communications Center received the 9-1-1 call reporting the lightning strike at 6:21 p.m. According to a press release issued by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), the 9-1-1 caller did not know their own location and a strong language barrier impeded communications but the dispatcher was able to direct EMS to the victim.



County EMS transported the female to Middle Park Medical Center in Granby where she was treated for burns from the strike.

Another lightning strike Friday evening, also in the Green Ridge Campground area, brought local firefighters out to put down the blaze. County Dispatch received the call at 8:39 p.m., just a couple of hours after the first lightning strike call. According to the press release from the GCSO the strike initiated a fire in the home located at 223 County Road 4626 in Grand County.



The caller told dispatchers that smoke was visible and smoke alarms in the house were going off. Minutes later the caller confirmed the presence of flames in the eves of the house. Deputy McDonald of the GCSO was the first to arrive on scene and confirmed everyone was out of the house. As firefighting crews from the area worked to put the blaze out one firefighter sustained minor injuries.

Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County EMS, Grand Fire Protection District 1, Grand Lake Fire Protection District, and Hot Sulphur Springs Parshall Fire Protection District all responded to the scene to help put the fire out.


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