Lightning strikes cause fires and power outages
A vacant house at Claude Road, near Sheffield, has been destroyed as a result of a lightning strike last night.
Fire Service crews from Claude Road, Sheffield, Railton and Melrose responded to a triple zero call just before 11 pm on Thursday night , finding the house fully involved in fire.
Despite their best efforts, they were unable to save the house.
A subsequent fire investigation revealed the house had caught alight from a tree close to the building which was struck by lightning.
Hundreds of lightning strikes were recorded on the North-West Coast during storms on Thursday afternoon and evening, with a house at Natone also being struck by lightning just before midday.
The occupants of the house were evacuated safely and a subsequent inspection by the Tasmania Fire Service finding no damage or fire risk.
Meanwhile, a minor mudslide on Castra Road at Abbotsham was cleared up by Central Coast Council with around 100mm of mud covering the road near the crest of a hill.
Emergency services and council workers also cleared a number of fallen trees along Bellamy’s Road between Melrose and Forthside.
