Crime & Safety

Lightning Strike Blows Out Sausalito Home's Windows, Knocks Out Power in Area

The force of the blast also blew out windows at a building about 20 feet away, fire officials said.

By Bay City News Service:

Lightning struck a tree that was touching the deck of a home in central Sausalito early Monday afternoon, Southern Marin Fire Protection District Chief Jim Irving said. 

The energy from the strike at 12:41 p.m. was transferred to the home at 134 Spencer Ave., blowing out several large windows and a sliding glass doors in the dining room and bowing an outside wall, Irving said. 

"The deck exploded and glass and bark were strewn throughout the interior of the house," Irving said. 

No one was home at the time and nothing caught fire, Irving said. 

The force of the blast also blew out windows at 136 Spencer Ave. about 20 feet away, Irving said. Two people in that home were not injured. 

The lightning strike knocked out power to 1,000 homes in the area, Irving said. 

PG&E spokeswoman Jana Morris said 1,116 Sausalito area customers lost power from the strike at 12:57 p.m. The power came back on by 2:30 p.m., but went out again for an unknown reason at 2:55 p.m. and has not been restored. 

Irving said he heard the blast five miles away in Strawberry. Residents near the lightning strike said the sound was "ear shattering," Irving said. 

"It had to be insanely loud," he said.

Copyright © 2014 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


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