COVENTRY, Conn. (WFSB) - A lightning strike ignited a tree after an evening of storms on Tuesday.
The tree was located near the intersections of Swamp Road and Brewster Street.
The Coventry Fire Department shared photos on Facebook showing the tree’s base glowing red and emitting smoke from the strike’s intense heat.
“The fire marshal actually had said to my husband that in the 42 years of doing this, he’s never actually seen a tree fire started from a lightning strike. So, he was very surprised,” said Melanie Joanis, Homeowner.
Video shared exclusively with Channel 3 from the homeowner, Chris Joanis, Melanie’s husband, shows the fire burning fire within the tree right after the lightning struck.
“It was scary. It was definitely scary, especially with the kids. The chickens too, because they were right there. So, as weird as it might sound, we were worried about the chicken coop too. But it was definitely a scary feeling, even after that one initial boom. We did have a second one hit our house after that as well. So, it was kind of like a very scary sequence of events,” said Melanie Joanis.
No injuries were reported.
Why did this happen?
Lightning always seeks the path of least resistance to the ground. In a tree, this path is often through the moist sapwood.
If the lightning travels through the interior channels of the tree, rather than just scorching the bark, it can cause this deeper, internal heating and subsequent glowing.
When lightning strikes a tree, the intense heat can reach temperature up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, nearly 5x hotter than the surface of the sun.
“You started to smell it a little bit, so my husband jumped up and ran to the woods to see if he could find out what it was. Sure enough, the tree had just started to spark a bit, and it was crackling on the inside of the tree,” Melanie said.
While direct strikes to people are relatively rare, the danger is very real.
According to the National Weather Service, on average, lightning claims the lives of about 20 people in the United States each year.
When thunder roars, head indoors. That is your best, and only, defense when it comes to lightning. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
A few reminders:
-Immediately seek shelter in a sturdy building
-Stay away from windows and doors during a storm.
-Avoid using corded electronics computers, and stay away from plumbing – that means no showering or washing dishes as lightning can travel through electrical systems and metal pipes.
-If caught outdoors, avoid tall objects and open fields.
“I’m cautious in storms. If it’s still a little bit of a rumble, I’ll still go out if I have some chores or something to do. But I’ll definitely be much more nervous and on-edge when the storms do come in. My son might be begging me to go play in the rain, but not this time, buddy,” Melanie said.