Lightning Strike Zaps Hamilton Home's Electrical System

A lightning strike just outside an Autumn Lane home in Hamilton Monday night damaged the home’s electrical system and blew the cover off some utility boxes.

It all happened at about 7:40 p.m. on Monday as the area was under a severe thunderstorm warning, according to Hamilton Fire Department Capt. Mark Goodwin.

The strike left a hole about six inches deep and about a foot wide in the yard.

“It’s pretty strong stuff,” Goodwin said. “It struck in the yard and went in through the sprinkler system.”

Nobody was injured.

The electrical system in the home was damaged and several light switch plates in the home caught fire, Goodwin said.

“It blew the door off the control panel to the dog fence and sprinkler control,” Goodwin said.

The home’s electric power was shut down and an electrician was called in, Goodwin said.

Firefighters were also called to the home at 149 Miles River Road on Monday night, Goodwin said, for what was initially described as a lightning strike. Goodwin said firefighter determined that the home was not struck by lightning but the fire alarm was activated by a power outage.

No other storm-related damage or incidents were reported in Hamilton, Goodwin said.