Lightning is no joke, and Burlington, Massachusetts, got a sharp reminder last night. A home on Cutting Lane was the epicenter of what fire officials believe to have been a lightning strike. The incident, reported around 8:13 p.m., left a man with burns on his hands and a woman suffering from smoke inhalation, according to an NBC Boston report. Both individuals were promptly taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The response from the Burlington Fire Department was met with visible smoke emissions from the side and garage of the house, but flames were notably absent. A control pad for the irrigation system inside the garage is believed to be the bullseye for the lightning's touch, according to an update by Boston 25 News. While the direct link is yet to be firmly established, the circumstantial evidence points strongly towards a natural electric discharge as the culprit.
On the damage front, the house seems to have got off relatively lightly. Aside from the window framing in the garage being singed and some wire damage, no major structural issues have been reported. However, as a precautionary measure, power to the residence has been shut down.
