Posted on 08/15/25
| News Source: WBAL TV
Baltimore, MD - Aug. 15, 2025 - Investigators from the Baltimore County Police Department's Fire Investigation Division consulted a lightning strike report that confirmed that a strike occurred directly at the latitude and longitude of 1803 Rambling Ridge Lane before Thursday's fire.
The fire ignited shortly after the National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Baltimore County at 3:33 p.m.
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ORIGINAL STORY (Aug. 14): More than 15 people are displaced following a three-alarm fire at the Twin Ridge Apartments in Pikesville.
"We know we have upwards of at least 15 residents, I can't say if they're adults or children at this time, that are displaced. So we'll be working with the apartment management as well as Red Cross to get them assistance," said Baltimore County Fire Department Public Information Officer Bureau Chief Travis Francis.
Baltimore County fire officials said firefighters were called around 3:39 p.m. Thursday for a fire showing through the roof of an apartment building in the 1800 block of Rambling Ridge Lane.
"I live in the building right next door to the one on fire," said Mike Zinker. "I saw a lightning strike, I thought it hit the tree right behind where I live, it was the loudest explosion I had ever heard. A few minutes later I saw smoke outside, stuck my head out, smelled it, and then called 911 and we're evacuated."
Several residents told 11 News they heard or saw a loud lightning strike moments before firefighters began banging at their doors.
"We do know just minutes before we got this call to 911, a Thunderstorm warning went out for Baltimore County, so we'll look into that," Francis said. "We'll work with the National Weather Service to see our lightning strike report to see if that may have caused this."
Francis said a partial collapse happened inside the building involving stairways.
No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.
Fire officials said firefighters removed multiple pets from the property, and at least one dog died as a result of the fire.