A serious lightning strike around 3:45PM on Thursday resulted in a very destructive fire at the Brady Holiday Inn & Suites that consumed the roof and third floor of the hotel. First responders were quickly on scene and work was made to assess the extent of the lightning strike that struck the top of the roof on the northside side and exited through the top front of the building facing S. Bridge St. Not long after, flames were seen coming through the roof and additional departments from around the area were called in to assist. Fire crews battled the blaze for almost 3 hours before the fire was brought under control at around 7:30PM.
Fortunately, there were only a few hotel guests in the building when the fire started and all of them and the hotel staff escaped unharmed. A big thanks goes out all of the area departments who assisted with getting the fire under control along with the Brownwood Fire Department who dispatched a ladder truck to aid in getting the fire out. Fire crews will be monitoring the fire overnight should hot spots flare up. A big thanks to the Brady Salvation Army for providing meals for the first responders who were present from Chicken Express and Boondocks and to Dominos who provided pizza along with the many donations of bottled water that were provided by local residents.
