‘You gotta be strong:’ Lightning strikes Florida church, sparking fire

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Lightning struck a church Wednesday afternoon in Ormond Beach, causing the historic building to catch fire, city officials said.

The fire broke out around 4 p.m. at the Historic New Bethel AME Church at 115 S. Yonge St.

[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider]

Nobody was inside the church at the time of the lightning strike, according to city officials.

Video from the scene shows the steeple atop the church damaged and charred.

North and southbound lanes of Yonge Street were blocked off from Tomoka Avenue to Central Avenue. Southbound lanes were later reopened.

“Please AVOID THE AREA when possible!” the city tweeted.

Storms popped up across the region Wednesday, prompting weather alerts for some areas.

[STORY CONTINUES BELOW]

“That’s when the lightning bolt happened, when we were in the car,” Ormond Beach resident Jason Leslie said. “And the dog here, he jumped up, and I jump and shook for a second. I’m like, I think lightning almost hit us.”

Meanwhile, the church’s senior pastor, Floyd Narcisee, told News 6 that he received a call about the fire, bringing him to tears.

“I had to calm down and say it’s a reason for this. It’s a blessing in everything,” he told News 6. “You gotta be strong for your congregation. You gotta be strong for your community.”