By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Phone lines at all Pelham city buildings are now operational after lightning struck near Pelham City Hall on June 24.

The lightning strike took down phone lines at City Hall, the Pelham Public Library, Pelham Fire Station No. 1 and the Pelham Water Department for about 48 hours, according to city Finance Director Tom Seale.

AT&T brought phone lines at all buildings back up on the morning of Wednesday, June 26.

The lightning strike happened at about 11:15 a.m. on June 24 while a storm was moving through the area. City officials have not determined the exact location of the lightning strike, but Seale said it struck close enough to set off car alarms near City Hall.

No other systems were affected, and the city buildings remained open while the phone repairs were being conducted.

The lightning strike circumvented a lightning protection system installed on the city buildings, and crews are working to determine the cause of the system’s error.