Lightning Strikes Manalapan House, Causes Fire

MANALAPAN, NJ - As a result of the giant thunderstorm that bellowed onto Central Jersey Saturday morning, lightning struck a home in Manalapan, causing this two-alarm fire. A photo of the home on fire is pictured above, taken by Manalapan volunteer firefighters. A family of five, including three young children, was asleep inside the home when the lightning hit at 5:23 a.m. Saturday, police said.

The home is located on Dancer Lane in Manalapan. The residents, a 39-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, along with their three young children were asleep in the residence when they were awoken by the terrific storm, said Capt. Thomas Barstow. They smelled smoke in the residence, and after checking outside, saw flames on the roof.

The family evacuated and called 911. Multiple agencies responded and extinguished the fire. The residence sustained extensive damage to the roof, and the second floor and was determined to be uninhabitable. There were no injuries to the residents or first responders reported.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and the investigators could not rule out a lightning strike, Capt. Barstow said. That area of Monmouth County is very flat.