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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Investigators believe a lightning strike from three weeks ago could be linked to the cause of a fire at a local church Thursday afternoon.

RELATED: Osceola Street church fire under investigation

Firefighters responded to a fire at the Hall of Faith Church on Osceola Street in Baton Rouge around noon.

The church owner told investigators that lightning struck the building last month.

“The lightning strike could’ve damaged some of the electrical wires on the inside, or it could’ve been something else, but it’s all leading us to believe it was possibly electrical in nature,” Baton Rouge Fire Department Public Information Officer Justin Hill said.

According to 2023 statistics from Vaisala, a respected lightning detection network, Baton Rouge ranks #8 for the most lightning-prone metropolitan areas, and Louisiana is #3 in lightning density.

Hill says if your house is struck by lightning, it’s important to get it checked out as soon as possible, even if there appears to be no major damage.

“It could damage some of the insulation around some of the wirings, and that’s why it’s always good to have an electrician come out and inspect your home after you have a lightning strike,” Hill said.

Hill says being prepared is the best way to keep yourself and your family safe.

“If you do have lightning strike your home, call 911, get out, and just make sure you’re safe,” Hill said.

The National Weather Service says to stay away from windows and avoid anything that conducts electricity, like corded phones, electrical appliances, computers, and metal doors during storms that produce lightning.

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