Lightning Strike Starts Fire, Destroys Kentucky Home

A central Kentucky homeowner says a lightning strike started a fire that burned his home to the ground.

Mark Dees of Berea told WLEX-TV in Lexington that the lightning struck at about 3:30 p.m. EDT Saturday while he was out, but he could see flames and smoke from a distance.

Firefighters said it appeared that lightning struck Dees’ roof and the house is total loss.

Dees said he ran into the home to save his four trapped dogs and, once the dogs were out, he gave up trying to save anything from the house.

A neighbor, Cindy Arbuthnot, said the heat was so intense, it could be felt three doors down.

Dees has plans to rebuild his house on the same lot.