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As of March 26, 2025, the St. Johns Fire District is actively responding to a series of lightning strikes and downed trees along the east side of Johns Island, South Carolina. The incident, captured in video footage released by the fire district, shows crews assessing damage and clearing debris from roadways. Officials have not reported any injuries, but caution is urged for residents in the affected areas.
The lightning strikes, which occurred during a brief but intense thunderstorm late Tuesday afternoon, brought down several large trees and damaged at least one residential structure. Fire crews arrived within minutes and have since secured the scene, working with local utility companies to address downed power lines. “Our priority is public safety and restoring normalcy as quickly as possible,” said a spokesperson for the St. Johns Fire District.
Residents on the east side of Johns Island have been advised to avoid travel on roads where tree debris is present, particularly along River Road and Maybank Highway. The Charleston County Emergency Management Department has issued a warning about potential secondary hazards, such as unstable limbs and electrical hazards. “Don’t approach any downed lines – assume they are live,” the department stated in a social media post.
The storm also triggered power outages affecting approximately 300 homes in the area, according to Dominion Energy. Crews are working to restore electricity, with an estimated completion time by late Thursday morning. The St. Johns Fire District continues to monitor the situation and has urged residents to report any new hazards via their non-emergency line.
This event follows a pattern of active spring thunderstorms in the Lowcountry. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Charleston noted that the region faces an elevated risk of isolated severe storms through the end of the week. “We recommend staying weather-aware and having multiple ways to receive warnings,” said a NWS meteorologist.
The video released by the fire district (available on their official social media channels) shows firefighters using chainsaws to clear a large oak tree from a residential driveway. Neighbors have praised the quick response, with one resident stating, “We heard the boom and within 10 minutes the fire trucks were here. They were amazing.”
No further updates are expected until damage assessments are completed later today. The St. Johns Fire District expects to release a more detailed report on property damage and response times in the coming days.
For the latest updates, follow the St. Johns Fire District on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Residents are also encouraged to sign up for Charleston County emergency alerts at charlestoncounty.org/alerts.
