For the second time in six years, lightning has struck the grounds of the historic White House United Methodist Church.

This time, it only destroyed a tree and a meter box. A handful of members gathered afterward Wednesday to praise and give thanks to God for sparing their church.

“I thank the good Lord he did what he did,” church member and neighbor Emily Carter said. “We are just blessed. I heard when the lightning hit.

“I thank the good Lord that he made it stand. We love it.”

The church, located on U.S. Highway 301, opened its doors in 1788 and is listed as the oldest Methodist Church in Orangeburg County. About six years ago, the church took a direct hit. Fire damaged a portion of its roof and interior, requiring the replacement of the pews, cushions, hymnals and organ.

At about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, lightning from a strong thunderstorm struck a 40-foot tree near the church, exploding and uprooting the tree, sending branches and tree shrapnel about 100 yards.



The lightning transferred from the tree to the church’s electric lines and traveled down to the meter mast and the meter base. The box was completely destroyed, yet the fire was contained within. There was no damage to the church’s interior with the exception minor smoke in the attic area.

There was nobody at the church at the time of the strike and there were no injuries.

The tree fell on the church cemetery’s fence. The estimated cost of damage is between $3,000 to $5,000.

None of the grave markers appeared to be destroyed.

“We thank the good Lord this was all,” Carter said. “We will not have to rebuild the church.”

Orangeburg County Fire System Coordinator Gene Ball said fire response was excellent and that the fire was contained to the meter within about 20 minutes.

The Department of Public Utilities, “did an excellent job responding to cut the power off,” Ball said. “This helped contain the fire.”

The damage to the meter box is estimated to be about $1,500.

Ball said the tree was about 24 inches in diameter and about 50 to 75 years old.

“I have never seen a tree that big blown to pieces,” Ball said.

Church member Patricia Pardue, who lives within a mile of the church and has been a member most of her life, said she was in a state of shock when she heard about the fire.

“We are very relieved that all of these volunteer firemen were over here,” Pardue said. “It could have been a lot worse.”

Fire incident commander Teddy Wolfe said when he first arrived on the scene, he the nature of the fire was uncertain.

“The doors were locked up and the stained glass windows, you can’t see through them,” Wolfe said. “We started our attack from the back. We gained entry and came in here and saw there was no smoke.”

Responding to the fire were the Orangeburg, West Middle, Four Holes and Jamison fire departments.

The lighting fire one of at least three reported in Orangeburg County as a line of severe storms rolled through the area.

A home on South Willow Road near Norway sustained about $10,000 in damage when lightning struck it shortly after 1 p.m. The fire was contained to a room of the house and there were no reports of injuries.

Lightning also caused a fire at a structure at Rocks Pond Campground in Eutawville. Ball said the lightning came through a TV antenna. About 20 percent of the structure was burned and about 100 percent was damaged due to smoke. Estimated value of damage was about $5,000, said Ball.

John Bagwell, director of DPU’s Electric Division, said there were about 19 power outages throughout the DPU system affecting about 449 customers. The most significant outage occurred on U.S. 301 North, with about 276 customers without power for approximately one hour.

Orangeburg County Emergency Services Assistant Director Billy Staley said there were reports of minor road flooding in areas that typically flood during heavy rains.

Staley also said there were reports of downed trees on Camden Road near Old Highway Number Six, on Vance Road and on Tee Vee Road near Santee. There were no reports of significant damage.

Staley said there was also a report that water may have caused a vehicle to run off the road near the 154 mile marker on Interstate 26. There were no reports of injuries.

n T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesand democrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

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