Lightning struck the home of an East Limestone resident during an early morning thunderstorm Friday, setting fire to the two-story structure and causing heavy damage.

East Limestone, Oak Grove-Thach, Piney Chapel and Segars Road volunteer fire departments dispatched 21 firefighters and five trucks to the scene.

The home, located at 26285 Nick Davis Road, just east of Chriswood Golf Course, is owned by Donald W. Pressnell. The Pressnells were at home at the time of the fire, but escaped without injury, firefighters said.

Fire heavily damaged the upper story of the brick home where the lightning struck. There was heavy smoke and water damage to the downstairs portion of the house.

The thunderstorm, which also knocked out power to more than 5,000 Limestone County homes in the Ardmore and Elkmont areas, came through Limestone County shortly before 8 a.m., bringing frequent lightning strikes and heavy rain.

Firefighters battled the fire at the Pressnell home nearly five hours before clearing the scene. There were no injuries reported.

Athens Electric Department Manager Gary Scoggins said 4,000 county customers lost power when lightning struck the city’s main electrical substation on Mooresville Road. He said power was also knocked out to another 1,000 customers in other portions of the county.

“Customers in the Elkmont and Ardmore areas were without electricity for about 40 minutes,” Scroggins said. “We had power restored to the rest of the county in a short period of time.”