Severe Storms Spark Multiple Fires, Down Power Lines & Trees In Far West End

Severe thunderstorms roared into Short Pump Thursday afternoon for around an hour, beginning around 4:30 p.m., bringing with them torrential downpours, high winds and frequent lightning, leaving a trail of destruction around the Far West End including hundreds of downed trees, power lines and multiple structure fires. Lightning sparked several fires around the area, including […]

July 30, 2010; 9:44 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

Lightning sparked several fires around the area, including one in the Reflections of West Creek apartment complex behind the Hilton Richmond Hotel, next to Short Pump Town Center. Several units were damaged off Breezy Bay Court. The fire started in the attic area at the height of the storm when lightning struck. Henrico Fire crews contained the fire damage mainly to the roof area. No one was injured and the residents are reportedly staying with friends.

Just east of Innsbrook, a house in the Carrington subdivision suffered heavy fire damage after a lightning strike. The home, off Springfield Road near Interstate 295 and Staples Mill Road, lost much of its roof and second story to the flames.

High winds toppled trees onto power lines across the area, closing area roads such as Pemberton near Three Chopt and Shady Grove in two places, between Pouncey Tract and Nuckols, and near the Shady Hills subdivision, both for trees and power lines in the roadway.

Hundreds of trees laid in roadways, on cars, and a few fell on houses, such as one we have pictured below in the Chadsworth at Wyndham neighborhood. Resident Caroline Corl was home at the time when the tree came crashing down.

“I was just sitting at home at my computer, and I heard the wind pickup,” Corl said. “Before I knew it, there was a huge crash, and my whole house shook. At that point, I ran downstairs to look.” Corl said crews tried to remove the tree but were unable to manually lift it off the house. She says a crane is being called in to remove it Friday morning.

At the height of the storm, just under 20,000 residents in the Far West End were without power, according to Dominion Virginia Power, but that number had dropped to just over 5,000 at press time.

Our photos along with reader-submitted photos, can be seen below. Thanks to everyone who sent theirs in. Click photos for image credits.