Lightning sparked Wesley Chapel apartment fire that displaced 200: PCFR

<p>A lightning strike sparked a three-alarm fire that destroyed <a href="https://www.fox13news.com/news/firefighters-scene-three-alarm-apartment-fire-pcfr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an apartment building at Cobalt Apartments in Wesley Chapel on Thursday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of dozens of units and displacing about 200 residents, according to Pasco County Fire Rescue. </a></p><h2>Lightning sparks Wesley Chapel apartment fire</h2><p>Pasco County Fire Rescue confirmed that a lightning strike started the blaze in the 3900 block of Jermyn Loop shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday through weather reports, doorbell camera footage and the Florida State Fire Marshals Office.</p><p>Firefighters said they arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof, prompting an immediate evacuation of more than 90 units. Pasco County Fire Rescue worked alongside Tampa Fire Rescue and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue to fight the fire.</p><h2>Lightning strike sparked devastating attic fire</h2><p>Fire Rescue Chief Ryan Guynn said the fire had about a 25-minute head start before anyone called 911. "So, that’s a significant head start for a fire of this size. For any fire, in all honesty. We were behind the ball from the start," Guynn explained.</p><p>Guynn added that the fire burned above most detection systems in the building. Firefighters kept the blaze from spreading to adjacent buildings, and crews stayed on the scene overnight to eliminate hot spots.</p><h2>Cobalt Apartments building faces imminent collapse</h2><p>Investigators are still determining the full circumstances…