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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Chilton County worked through some severe weather events over the last week that produced damaging winds, hail and did some damage to homes in the area. The biggest damage through the events was from the first batch of severe weather on May 16-17 when a home on County Road 322 in rural Maplesville was struck by lightning and caught fire.

The Isabella Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Maplesville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments responded to the 27000 block of County Road 322 at around 9 a.m. to a home with visible flames. Smoke was visible from the first responding apparatus’ from over a mile away from the home, and additional departments were dispatched to the fire that included — Cedar Grove Fire Department, South Chilton Fire and Rescue and West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department.

All departments responded to the fire with multiple apparatus and personnel, and the fire was brought under control in under an hour. No injuries were reported to the homeowners or firefighters.

“Thanks to our mutual aid departments for lending a hand to help us quickly get this fire extinguished,” Isabella Volunteer Fire and Rescue posted on Facebook.

The second batch of severe weather swept through the county in the late-night hours of May 20 and the early morning hours of May 21. Chilton County was in between a level two and three threat of severe weather that included the threat of tornadoes, damaging winds with gusts up to 70 mph and golf ball-sized hail. However, the severe weather narrowly missed the large central portion of Chilton County, and no extensive damage or power outages were reported.