A golfer was hospitalized Tuesday evening after being struck by lightning at Fox Hollow Golf Course in Lakewood, Colorado. The strike also ignited a two-acre brush fire that required more than four hours for West Metro Fire Rescue (WMFR) crews to contain.
The injured golfer, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a local hospital and subsequently discharged on Wednesday morning, according to WMFR.
Fire officials first reported the lightning strike near the sixth hole shortly before 6:30 p.m. A 911 caller also reported the golfer being struck. The incident occurred during a storm that moved through the area.
The lightning struck a section of dry brush and downed trees on a rough area of the golf course, adjacent to irrigated greens. This "dead and dry fuel" contributed to the ignition of the fire.
Crews worked to contain the "slow-moving grass and brush fire," which initially covered about an acre before spreading to two acres. No homes or structures were threatened or damaged.
Firefighters used hoses to douse the affected area, which had been reduced to dirt and burned trees. They also employed tools to scrape the ground down to bare soil to remove fuel sources and prevent further spread. Large logs were observed still actively burning hours after the initial strike.
WMFR utilized a drone equipped with infrared technology to help locate hidden pockets of heat within the burned area. This technology is crucial for ensuring complete extinguishment during the "mop-up" phase of wildland firefighting.
Officials advised residents in the vicinity that some smoke might be visible in the coming days as temperatures rise, a common occurrence after such fires. The mop-up operation, described as meticulous and time-consuming, was expected to continue for at least four hours after containment to ensure no embers reignited.