Storm-Watcher Alerts Vernon Firefighters to Lightning Strike

VERNON, CT — A Cemetery Road resident who was outside watching Tuesday's powerful thunderstorm likely saved the home next door, Vernon's fire marshal said.

The fire broke out in a garage at 111 Cemetery Road just before 4 p.m. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze "in a couple of minutes," after the next-door neighbor saw lighting strike the garage while watching the storm, according to Vernon Fire Marshal Ray Walker. The garage is connected to the home by a "breezeway/canopy" that is about 10 feet long, Walker said.

Walker said the resident told him when the lightning stuck, it lit up the entire yard.

Firefighters were there so quickly, they were able to back a car out of the garage, Walker said.

The fire was contained to a wall and the lightning strike knocked out power to the home, he said. The home is habitable, but it is being inspected for "considerable electrical damage," according to Walker. It was still without power Wednesday morning, Walker said.

Power on Cemetery Road itself was not affected, Walker said. The road was closed for about an hour while firefighters monitored the home's electrical system closely, he said.

Photo Credit: Grace Dehnel

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