Pocono News Section

Neighbor Helps Luzerne County Fire Victims

Neighbor Helps Luzerne County Fire Victims - Monday, June 23, 2008 at 3:25PM EST

Reported by: Nicole Borocci
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 @ 03:25pm EST

KINGSTON , LUZERNE COUNTY - Debbie Johnson helped her son and boyfriend clean out their Kingston Apartment Monday afternoon.

She and six other people were forced from their home when lightning struck the roof of the building overnight.

“Somebody said, ‘look at the smoke!’ I took him [son] right over to neighbor Joyce I did," Johnson said.

Joyce Dombroski-Gebhardt was sitting outside when she noticed the smoke.

She called 9-1-1 and ran to wake up her neighbors.

“I'm just thankful God gave me the strength to follow through and help them out,” she said.

Debbie says she wouldn't expect anything less from her neighbors.

"They're not neighbors. They're friends. That's how I feel."

"If there's anything people need I'm here for them. They were all on my porch in the middle of the night," Dombroski-Gebhardt said.

It was a close call that fire crews say could have been avoided if someone had called sooner.

Investigators say embers were smoldering for a few hours after the initial lightning strike.

“Call the fire department. We'll go through the house top to bottom to make sure nothing is smoldering," said Kingston Fire Chief, Bob Cannon.

Fire victim Terry Lindsay says Monday’s lightning strike will make him think twice during the next summer storm.
”If I hear thunder, it's going to make me wonder if I want to sleep or not, you know?"