Jun 9, 2009 10:33 am US/Eastern
Lightning Strike Leaves Hole In Weston Home's Roof
WESTON (CBS4) ―
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Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue firefighter Jim Owens looks up at a hole caused by lightning at a Weston home owned by Ken Bank. The strike ignited a blaze firefighters said topped 1000 degrees,
Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue
A bolt of lightning blasted a hole through the roof of a Weston home Monday afternoon, starting an attic fire that firefighters sat hit 1000 degrees at times. The strike was part of a line of severe thunderstorms that pounded parts of western Broward Monday.
Ken Bank has just returned to his home in Weston, and was sitting in his car waiting for a thunderstorm to pass when he heard a thunderclap and saw a lightning flash.
"I was pulling up in the driveway in my car, and I felt like you could tell the lightning hit close, and I waited for a second for the rain to calm down, so I can come inside, get inside," said Bank. "The baby-sitter called me; she was watching the kids and she said the house was hit by lightning."
Bank rushed inside, smelled smoke, and hustled everyone out into the rain. He then called 911.
BSO Fire Rescue spokesperson Ken Jachles said firefighters arrived to find smoke spilling from the eaves. Firefighter Jim Owens went into the attic to look for the source, while other firefighters spotted a 2-foot hole in the roof and covered it with a tarp to keep the rain out.
Jachles said firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading beyond the immediate area of the strike, but parts of the roof and trusses were damaged.
No one was hurt as a result of the lightning strike and fire, but Bank and his family stayed with relatives while the damage was repaired.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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