[islandgal]

I just came down Canal St into Sable Chase. Lightening hit a home on the street behind Canal Street that runs into the pool and postal station. We had heard a horrible "boom" while on 466A.
I can only pray no one was in the home. Many, many fire and emergency trucks - very frightening. Waiting to hear something on the news.

[villages07]

Actually, that was in Virginia Trace...looks like north end of Spartanburg Way close to where Canal and Stillwater intersect. We were just in the general area and could see all the equipment and catastrophic damage to a large designer home. Let's hope all occupants are safe and sound.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by villages07

Actually, that was in Virginia Trace...looks like north end of Spartanburg Way close to where Canal and Stillwater intersect. We were just in the general area and could see all the equipment and catastrophic damage to a large designer home. Let's hope all occupants are safe and sound.

Please tell us more as soon as you can.

[chuckinca]

Gas line in attic blow?


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[chelsea24]

Wow! Yes we were coming down canal and saw some smoke and when we approached, we could see the house on fire. Flames coming out of the roof, but as we came around we could see the ceiling was already coming down inside.

What I don't understand, and maybe someone can explain, is there was at least 6 firetrucks and no one appeared be be in a hurry to do anything!!! Now, I'm sure they have their reasons, but I was wondering why they didn't appear to be jumping into action???

From what I know is that the woman that lives there is out of the country in Argentina. So, thank God, no one was inside (no pets either) and no one was hurt.

But, those flames were dangerously close to the neighbors on both sides. I would have been a nervous wreck! It's just awful.

When we were coming home from dinner, the smoke was still billowing and we did then see firemen with the hoses.

It's very scary. We saw a couple of lightening hits in the field across from us also.

[English Ivy]

I don't have any info on the home that was hit. Hopefully no one was injured.

I was driving west on 466A and then north on Canal probably around the time the home was hit. It was not raining but I saw several incredible lightening strikes which were immediately followed by deep rumbles of thunder. You could tell there was bad weather right on top of us. And guess what else I saw? People continuing to golf on Havana! Also saw a gentleman walking south on Canal. He appeared to be taking his afternoon stroll and had his umbrella in hand so he wouldn't get wet. I'll give the walker the benefit of the doubt that he was hopefully heading home to take cover. The golfers are another story. There's no polite way to say this ... some people are just really stupid!

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by English Ivy

I don't have any info on the home that was hit. Hopefully no one was injured.

I was driving west on 466A and then north on Canal probably around the time the home was hit. It was not raining but I saw several incredible lightening strikes which were immediately followed by deep rumbles of thunder. You could tell there was bad weather right on top of us. And guess what else I saw? People continuing to golf on Havana! Also saw a gentleman walking south on Canal. He appeared to be taking his afternoon stroll and had his umbrella in hand so he wouldn't get wet. I'll give the walker the benefit of the doubt that he was hopefully heading home to take cover. The golfers are another story. There's no polite way to say this ... some people are just really stupid!

We live on a golf course and see this all the time. I can't understand the mentality, but it seems to be pervasive among the golfers here.

[mac9]

The gas line in the attic blew. The firemen could do nothing until the gas was turned off.

[ijusluvit]

If it's true that a lightning strike in TV once again caused an attic gas line to disintegrate and destroy a house, I have two questions for you:

1) Do you have a lightning rod system on your home?

2) Are you aware of any efforts on the part of the Villages to improve construction specs to protect homes from gas line explosions due to lightning strikes?

[jojo]

I was at the tennis club at Glenview when I saw the emergency equipment go by. About 40 minutes later I passed the house and the roof was in flames. I assume they hosed down the adjacent houses - surprising that there wasn't damage to them. Appears to be a large designer home with pool. Thank goodness no one was hurt but the damage seems severe.

[chuckinca]

If my house had a gas line in the attic, the developer would get a written request to do a redesign immediately. If this keeps happening people will eventually get killed.


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[BobKat1]

I imagine that gas lines in the attic are to code, but it just doesn't seem right or safe.

[k2at]

i do not believe lightening rods on your roof will protect your house from a direct lightening strike. I believe they are for the transient strikes nearby.

Someone might comment on this statement.

[GMONEY]

instead of just a rod it seems there should be multiple rods or a Lightning protection system. Looked online and have supplied a link. From reading up, dont think just one rod will do the trick. You need to have a system of rods or other protection items set up. Even then that will not protect from a direct strike.
During the storms yesterday in which this home was struck, a rather large strike hit here at our plant beside TV. There was a rather bright purplish light followed by a sizzling noise then the loudest boom. Then a bunch of smoke came off the ground. It went into the ground, but melted all the paint off the fences around the area, and still knocked out all of our computer systems and managed to fry one rather expensive piece of equipment that is hooked to a expensive surge protection system. The strike was about 100 yards from the main building. It managed to cause us alot of headaches at that distance. Had it been a direct hit on the building, our protection system would not have been able to save us from alot of damage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightni...tection_system

[In awe of TV]

Would this not have happened if the house were all electric??