No Injuries in Apparent Lightning Strike on Homes

Two homes were damaged during last night's storm following an apparent lightning strike which appears to have struck the houses via power lines, police said Wednesday.

No injuries were reported in the apparent strike, which happened on Rose Terrace in Cedar Grove shortly after 1 a.m.

Police said in a news release that a resident reported hearing a loud thunder clap before losing power on the second floor of her home, and contacted police when she detected a burning odor coming from her electrical panel.

Police say they saw damage to the homes' siding on areas around the main power lines, which they said indicates the lightning traveled along the power lines before striking the homes. Police said a fence between the houses also showed signs of lightning damage.

"Fortunately it wasn't as bad as it could have been," Cedar Grove Police Chief Richard Vanderstreet said Wednesday.

The homes were declared safe following an inspection by the Cedar Grove Fire Department and PSE&G. The cost to repair the damage was not immediately known.