Lightning strike by NW Bend home causes damage

Thunderstorms that pelted much of the High Desert with hail Wednesday also brought hundreds of lightning strikes – one that hit a tree just outside a northwest Bend home, damaging its electrical system, authorities said.

Fire crews were called just before 6 p.m. to a reported house fire in the 2100 block of Northwest Rimrock Drive, east of Central Oregon Community College, and a report it had been struck by lightning with a thunderous boom, said Bend Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki.

Arriving firefighters found the residents outside the home, saying they could smell smoke in the three-story house after the strike, Derlacki said.

Crews found the lightning strike outside had damaged the electrical system, but found no fire. Derlacki said the smoke alarms were tested to be sure they were working before allowing the family back into the house for the night.

Bend firefighters and U.S. Forest Service crews also responded to four other single-tree or small lightning-sparked fires late Wednesday, Derlacki said, though those were in areas outside of the city and caused no damage. While heavy rain (or hail) fell in many areas, crews worked to make sure the blazes ere contained, he said.

For more information on lightning safety, please visit the Bend Fire Departments safety information page on lightning: http://www.bendoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=1162