Customers flee North Laurel restaurant after lightning strike, fire

No injuries reported

Lightning struck a North Laurel restaurant, causing it to catch fire and customers to flee Sunday afternoon, according to Howard County fire officials.

Firefighters from Howard, Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties were called at 2 p.m. to the Wild Buffalo Grill Restaurant at 10024 Washington Boulevard for a two-alarm fire that spread to the second floor and attic, according to a statement from the Howard County fire department.

The restaurant was open at the time but no injuries were reported. Customers had all fled the building by the time the fire department arrived, officials said.

Fire crews managed to extinguish the fire in about an hour. Fire Investigators said the cause of the fire was lightning. They estimate about $10,000 worth of damage.

The restaurant remains closed.

[e-mail]