An east Lampasas County woman lost her home but was not injured when lightning ignited a fire Tuesday afternoon.

During a rainstorm, lightning hit the back of the doublewide mobile home owned by Brenda Taylor at 572 County Road 3384, said County Fire Marshal Gene Harrison, who investigated the fire.

Lightning struck near a bedroom and den in the home, and fire quickly spread throughout the structure, which was totally destroyed, Harrison said.

Ms. Taylor, who had been mowing part of her land, noticed the fire when she stopped her lawn mower near her porch to get a drink, Harrison said. She phoned

emergen­cy

personnel at 3:32

p.m., and the Copperas Cove Fire Department arrived at her home first. The Kempner Volunteer Fire Department arrived soon afterward at the property, located near Oak Springs Road outside the northwest edge of Copperas Cove.

Under a unified command, the two fire departments worked for nearly three and a half hours to contain the blaze and to keep heat radiating from the mobile home from starting fires on nearby properties.

Firefighters worked in shifts inside the building to prevent responders from suffering heat exhaustion.

"We're doing a good rotation right now," KVFD Captain Alan Mainville said shortly before 5 p.m., as firefighters worked to squelch the flames.

Mainville and CCFD Deputy Chief Gary Young praised the cooperation of the two fire crews.

At about 4 p.m., black smoke rising above a cedar-covered hill was visible several miles from the home. Rain fell as firefighters worked, but it was not concentrated enough in any one area to help douse the fire, said Young.

"It's of no help, really," the deputy chief said. "It may have slowed down our response as we were driving through traffic."

KVFD responded to the blaze with nine firefighters and five vehicles: a fire truck, a booster truck and three tankers. CCFD responded with four firefighters and three officers in a total of five vehicles.

The Lampasas County Sheriff's Department also responded and redirected traffic on part of CR 3384.

Cleanup and the dousing of hot spots at the property continued until about 11 p.m. Tuesday, Mainville said.

Although the fire did not spread to surrounding properties, it damaged some trees near the mobile home, Harrison said.

Ms. Taylor did not request Red Cross assistance, as a son who lives nearby offered her a place to stay, Mainville said.