Firefighters respond to two blazes Wednesday

A house off Applegate Drive sustained $5,000 in damage Wednesday night after an apparent lightning strike, firefighters said.

Harry Billman, 86, was outside of his house with his wife and pets when he heard a loud noise and noticed his electricity went out, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

He contacted Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative. Representatives arrived and told him smoke was visible from the roof, according to a report.

Billman extinguished the flames in his attic with a garden hose.

Spring Hill Fire Rescue responded and removed "smoldering debris" from the attic, firefighters said.

Hernando County Fire Rescue received another call about a vehicle fire less than nine hours earlier off Mitchell Road.

A van caught fire and caused some damage to a nearby house, according to a report. Firefighters noticed some of the vinyl siding had melted.

A neighbor, David Price, 48, was awakened by an explosion shortly after 3:15 p.m. and noticed the van in flames. He called 911 and then ran to the house to wake up the owner, deputies said.

No injuries were reported.