What Happened
A Nassau County home caught fire in the early-morning hours of Wednesday, July 29, 2026, after it was likely struck by lightning during overnight storms, according to News 12 Long Island. Firefighters from the Hicksville Fire Department responded to 36 Hemp Ln. in Hicksville at approximately 3 a.m.
Hicksville Fire Department Chief Christopher Wright told News 12 Long Island that the fire was mostly contained to the front of the home in the attic. Several lightning strikes had been recorded in the area at the time the call came in, consistent with the suspected ignition. It took crews roughly one hour to get the blaze fully under control, Wright said.
Wright explained that firefighters approach suspected lightning-strike fires the same way they handle any other structural fire. “Once it started, it’s all pretty much the same thing,” Wright said, according to News 12 Long Island. “Normally they don’t turn into a large fire.” That assessment proved accurate here — the fire did not spread beyond the attic area.
No injuries were reported. Officials on the scene confirmed that no one was hurt as a result of the overnight fire.
Location & Road Context
Hemp Lane is a residential street in Hicksville, a hamlet in Nassau County. Hicksville sits in the center of Nassau County and is a densely populated community with a mix of single-family homes and commercial corridors. For more on traffic and road conditions in the area, see our Hicksville roads page and recent Hicksville incidents.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office responded to 36 Hemp Lane and is continuing its investigation, according to News 12 Long Island. Officials said the Marshal’s office will make the official determination as to whether lightning caused the fire. As of the time of the initial report, the cause had not been formally confirmed — only deemed likely based on the weather conditions and the timing of the call.