WELLINGTON NORTH – No one was injured but a home here received major damage in a fire officials say was caused by a lightning strike.
On Dec. 2 at 5:38pm firefighters from the Mount Forest station were called to the house fire north of Mount Forest, off of Highway 6.
Wellington North Fire Chief Dave Guilbault said the fire was caused by a lightning strike that blew the home’s electrical panel in the basement.
“One of the occupants was in the house at the time when the lightning hit and it jolted her and then the house just filled up with smoke,” said Guilbault.
“When we arrived there was no fire but a lot of heavy smoke.”
The strike travelled along the wiring throughout the house.
“We had quite a time trying to put the fire out because it was in the walls and in the ceiling,” he said.
Wellington North’s fire investigator later confirmed the blaze was caused by lightning.
“It is strange to see in December,” Guilbault said. “I wasn’t expecting to get a call about a house hit by lightning.”
No one was hurt in the fire but paramedics on scene treated one of the owners for stress and anxiety.
Teams from Mount Forest and Arthur were assisted by West Grey firefighters from Durham and Ayton because the call was on the municipal border. Firefighters did not leave the property until 10:30pm that night.
Total damage to the house is estimated at $175,000.
The house received what Guilbault called “extensive interior damage,” most of which was concentrated in the east end of the house in the basement and garage.
The residents have had to make temporary accommodations until repairs can be made, but things could have been worse, said Guilbault.
He explained that less than 100 feet away from the house was a cattle barn, in which other residents were milking cows at the time.
Luckily, he said, the department was called before the fire had a chance to spread and cause more damage.
“It was not an easy fire to fight, but the crews did an amazing job. There is damage, but we saved the whole house,” Guilbault said.
