Lightning safety reminders before heading to Hill Climb

Six people are recovering after being hit by lightning on Pikes Peak. It happened Thursday afternoon as crews and racers were on the mountain getting ready for a weekend of racing.

The Hill Climb will go on as normal, but Pikes Peak managers say they’ll monitor lightning closely. You’re asked to be cautious when storms roll in.

“It wasn’t a very strong storm but it did produce 13 lightning strikes and as we know all it takes is one,” said Chief Meteorologist Rachael Plath.

That’s why it’s so important to be prepared.

“You want to be the lowest thing around and you don’t want to lie flat but you want to squat and get yourself really close to the ground and you really want to avoid being the highest thing around,” said Jane Zook with Colorado Springs Fire Department.

And- even if the storm looks far away, that doesn’t mean it always is.

“One thing a lot of people don’t know is that the storm doesn’t actually have to be overhead. Lightning can strike 5 and 10 miles away from where the actual storm is located,” Plath said.

Thursday’s strike comes less than 24 hours after five construction workers
were struck by lightning while working on a roof.

Colorado is in the top five when it comes to people being struck.

“There’s more risk at a higher altitude, and in Colorado there’s so much more risk because there are few trees and you’re more exposed because your the highest thing around,” Zook said.

A good thing to keep in mind: “When thunder roars, go indoors.”

If you’re outside when you see lightning and can’t go indoors, the next best place to go is in your car.