bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Lightning-struck tree damages 16 homes
CAPE CORAL (AP) - A lightning bolt struck a 40-foot tall, dead pine tree, setting off an explosion that damaged 16 homes, two severely, fire officials said.
The massive jolt occurred because the tree was filled with water and the bolt traveled all the way to the roots about 9 p.m. Monday, said Cape Coral Fire Chief Bill Van Helden. No one was seriously injured, but two homes were determined to be unsafe to live in because of roof and wall damage.
The bolt left a 14-foot long trench about 5 inches deep near the tree. Other damage included shattered windows, dented cars and broken fences. Branches from the tree were found as far as 500 feet away.
"Here in Florida, we're used to storms and lightning, but it was a very significant event," Helden said. "It looked like someone had detonated a bomb in the middle of the neighborhood."
Cape Coral is the northern most community in Lee County, just south of Punta Gorda.
CAPE CORAL (AP) - A lightning bolt struck a 40-foot tall, dead pine tree, setting off an explosion that damaged 16 homes, two severely, fire officials said.
The massive jolt occurred because the tree was filled with water and the bolt traveled all the way to the roots about 9 p.m. Monday, said Cape Coral Fire Chief Bill Van Helden. No one was seriously injured, but two homes were determined to be unsafe to live in because of roof and wall damage.
The bolt left a 14-foot long trench about 5 inches deep near the tree. Other damage included shattered windows, dented cars and broken fences. Branches from the tree were found as far as 500 feet away.
"Here in Florida, we're used to storms and lightning, but it was a very significant event," Helden said. "It looked like someone had detonated a bomb in the middle of the neighborhood."
Cape Coral is the northern most community in Lee County, just south of Punta Gorda.
