‘This was devastating’: Ga. church burns down after lightning hits it

LITHONIA, Ga. - A Georgia church burned down during a storm, according to fire officials.

The Redan United Methodist Church in Lithonia suffered a “significant fire,” officials said.

No one was injured, but the church is reportedly a total loss.

Rev. Kevin Days, the church’s pastor, said the fire may have been the result of a lightning strike. Days said the church’s steeple had a lightning rod on it and lightning hit the base of the steeple.

He said the roof collapsed just seconds after fire crews were told to evacuate.

According to Days, the church had stood for more than 100 years.

“There’s a lot of emotions and memories tied to this building,” he said.

“This was devastating.”