CONMEE TOWNSHIP, Ont. – A lightning strike destroyed a home on Holland Road West in Conmee Township on Friday night.
A garage become fully involved in flames around 9 p.m. after being struck by lightning, with the fire spreading to a directly adjacent house.
The fire spread rapidly, and responders from the Conmee, Oliver Paipoonge, and O’Connor volunteer fire departments were unable to prevent near-total damage to the home.
“Everything’s gone,” said Conmee Mayor Kevin Holland, who was on scene Friday and spoke to a resident who was home at the time.
The man was treated at the scene for minor burns sustained while moving equipment from the garage, he said.
The resident was able to stay with family living nearby, and had been in contact with insurance, he reported. The family expressed their appreciation for the efforts of responders and neighbours who attempted to save the structure, he said.
A severe thunderstorm resulted in several fires in the township Friday, as well as downing trees and causing power outages throughout the region.
It was a busy night for responders, with lightning sparking a second fire at a residence on Lundstrom Road East.
The strike ignited an electrical panel, Holland said, but the resident was able to extinguish it before it spread further.
