02-07-2018, 01:50 PM
Having nearly fully recovered from the burst hose / flooding issue, I took out the trash today and noticed thunder out in the distance (far distant). It was a nice afternoon, mostly sunny and no sign of rain or storm anywhere near.
Then KABAM! I felt a shock and saw sparks everywhere, maybe lost my wits for a half second- definitely lost my hearing for a few seconds. All our farm animals (including the ones that aren't normally spooked) went berserk. My wife hollered at me from the donkey paddock asking where it hit. About that time I noticed ashes were starting to fall on me. One of them went down the neck of my shirt and burned me a little.
The coconut tree not more than 15 feet away from me was on fire. I yelled at the wife to call the fire department while I grabbed the hose and turned it on.
The catchment water pressure shot the water about 5 feet below the flames, but as embers and crap started raining down from the tree I was able to put it out and kept the fire from spreading.
A couple of rats were apparently living in the tree and didn't fare as well. They fell out, one made it about 20 feet before dying. Another one fell down on fire. I extinguished it and figured it was dead. Getting struck by lightning and set ablaze would kill any creature. But it ran off! Slowly at first, but then a little quicker, and then it was gone.
More lightning started striking around the house about the time the fire department showed up. Also showing up was a torrential downpour. The nice afternoon had clearly turned, starting with that first blast. The rain put most of the fire out and the firefighters said they would stay sheltered until the lightning wasn't directly overhead (good call).
After the lightning passed they extinguished the tree and left.
The tree took one for the team, but I was close enough to feel the effects of being that close. Definitely makes one pause and think for a minute. Normally I avoid being outside when lightning is nearby, but this literally came out of nowhere. There were some mixed clouds about but the sun was still out, the nearest dark clouds and thunder looked miles away when the freak show started.
I haven't assessed all the damage yet but there appears to be some damaged electronics inside the house. I'm hoping these "things" don't come in 3's.
Then KABAM! I felt a shock and saw sparks everywhere, maybe lost my wits for a half second- definitely lost my hearing for a few seconds. All our farm animals (including the ones that aren't normally spooked) went berserk. My wife hollered at me from the donkey paddock asking where it hit. About that time I noticed ashes were starting to fall on me. One of them went down the neck of my shirt and burned me a little.
The coconut tree not more than 15 feet away from me was on fire. I yelled at the wife to call the fire department while I grabbed the hose and turned it on.
The catchment water pressure shot the water about 5 feet below the flames, but as embers and crap started raining down from the tree I was able to put it out and kept the fire from spreading.
A couple of rats were apparently living in the tree and didn't fare as well. They fell out, one made it about 20 feet before dying. Another one fell down on fire. I extinguished it and figured it was dead. Getting struck by lightning and set ablaze would kill any creature. But it ran off! Slowly at first, but then a little quicker, and then it was gone.
More lightning started striking around the house about the time the fire department showed up. Also showing up was a torrential downpour. The nice afternoon had clearly turned, starting with that first blast. The rain put most of the fire out and the firefighters said they would stay sheltered until the lightning wasn't directly overhead (good call).
After the lightning passed they extinguished the tree and left.
The tree took one for the team, but I was close enough to feel the effects of being that close. Definitely makes one pause and think for a minute. Normally I avoid being outside when lightning is nearby, but this literally came out of nowhere. There were some mixed clouds about but the sun was still out, the nearest dark clouds and thunder looked miles away when the freak show started.
I haven't assessed all the damage yet but there appears to be some damaged electronics inside the house. I'm hoping these "things" don't come in 3's.