Lightning bolt strikes through Kingswood home
A LIGHTNING bolt tore through the roof of a house in Bristol last night, forcing radiators off the wall of the property.
The three-storey home in Britton Gardens, Kingswood, was struck just before 7.45pm amid a powerful hail storm.
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The house in Britton Gardens, Kingswood, which was struck by lightning during last night's storm
The roof and chimney stack were badly damaged, while several vehicles nearby were also damaged by falling debris.
The lightning ran down through the house, forcing radiators off the wall before it was channelled into a water main, which was also left damaged.
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Fire crews from Temple, Kingswood, Speedwell and Avonmouth were at the scene for four-and-a-half hours using a hydraulic platform to provide lighting and to help remove potentially dangerous rubble from the roof.
Heavy salvage sheets and a thermal imaging camera were also used.
The electricity supply to the property was directly affected and several neighbouring homes were disrupted.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service's Darren Bane said no fire was involved.
He added: "The force of the lightning was enough to cause the damage to the roof alone. Lightning is an extremely powerful force."
6 Comments
by dave_sombrero
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 6:09AM
“@CaptainCoupon
all i know is that i looked out of the window and the only lights that were on were in the shopping centre which i assume is because of a backup generator”
by CaptainCoupon
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 12:24AM
“@dave_sombrero.
I live 5 houses down from the house that was struck and my electricity supply was fine as was most of the street. only a few houses lost power although loads of people with sky broadband lost their connection while BT broadband was unafected. The post failed to mention that the debris from the blast went about 30 metres and damaged neighbouring houses as well.
@qwerty132
You should have heard it here. I honestly thought a bomb had gone off. Imagine that thunder with the flash at exactly the same time hitting a few metres away. It was deafening and pretty scary.
@Tiny_Steve
They travel both ways. The 'leader' comes down from the cloud and the 'streamer' come up from the ground. They meet in mid air at which point the lightning becomes visible as the rest of the charge is released.”
by dave_sombrero
Monday, January 28 2013, 8:19PM
“"The electricity supply to the property was directly affected and several neighbouring homes were disrupted."
more like several hundred. i'm the other side of the shopping centre and every house around here had their electric tripped”
by Pogo_T_Clown
Monday, January 28 2013, 3:37PM
“And there's me telling my kids that things like this just don't happen...
I must remember to show them this story later... that'll teach them to wake me up before 6:30.”
by qwerty132
Monday, January 28 2013, 12:35PM
“Did anyone hear that huge thunderclap? it set off loads of car alarms, we thought it was a plane crash.”
by Tiny_Steve
Monday, January 28 2013, 12:15PM
“Ouch.
But as I'm sure the Post noze, lightning bolts travel upwards, not downwards.”