A fire caused by a lightning strike injures 1 person in an apartment building in southwest Fort Worth

One person was sent to the hospital on Wednesday morning after lightning started a fire that spread to several apartments in an apartment building in southwest Fort Worth, firefighters said.

A Fort Worth Fire spokesman said crews were first called shortly before 5 a.m. in connection with a fire at an apartment complex in the 6800 block of Bayline Drive, one of several fires reported as thunderstorms raged in the area.

Rescuers who arrived at the scene discovered a flame in a two-story building. It took about 70 firefighters two and a half hours to extinguish the fire.

One person was taken to the hospital. Details of their injuries were not immediately available.

As a result of the fire, eight apartments were damaged, 20 residents were injured. The American Red Cross of Greater North Texas helped those who were forced to leave their homes.