Lightning strikes at least twice in Lincoln

[weatherwunder]

Lightning strikes at least twice in Lincoln

BY AARON SANDERFORD / Lincoln Journal Star

Two days after a near miss, Savannah Pines -- a large retirement community in south Lincoln -- was struck by lightning in Thursday morning's storm.


The bolt burned a hole in the roof over a common area, forcing a two-hour evacuation of apartments.


Lincoln Fire & Rescue asked employees to move residents into the dining area as firefighters checked the ceiling for fire, said Dori Person, a manager who lives on-site.

"Because it was such a small fire, we didn't have to take them out," Person said. "One of the residents had to step outside because her dog didn't like the fire alarm at all."

Firefighters responded to several reports of possible lightning strikes overnight Thursday, but only Savannah Pines and one house had confirmed strikes.

Susan Bogenreif, 40, was awake Thursday morning when she heard a sound she compared to light bulbs breaking. It was 5:20 a.m.

"I was in the living room, and I saw little flames and smoke shooting from the smoke detector," she said. "Then I saw the smoke detector lying in the middle of my floor."

The noise roused her husband and son, she said, but she learned what had happened only after a neighbor knocked and said her roof was on fire.

Her family got dressed and outside safely, and firefighters contained the blaze at 1947 Timber Ridge Road mainly in the roof and attic areas.

Two of her televisions, a VCR and a computer appear ruined, she said.

"It actually could be a lot worse," Bogenreif said. "We could have a burned house."

While it remains rare for homes or businesses to be scorched by lightning, strikes happen during intense storms, City Fire Inspector Chuck Schweitzer said.

Savannah Pines, 3900 Pine Lake Road, has had more than its share of tough luck. The original building burned in 2000, notching itself a $6 million price tag as the city's most expensive arson.

Officials estimated Thursday's damage at Savannah Pines at about $20,000. They had no estimate for Bogenreif's home.

"It was like, `Oh, an act of God,' there's really nothing we can do about it," said Person, the manager at Savannah Pines. "Next time, the lightning rods will be up."

Reach Aaron Sanderford at 473-7225 or asanderford@journalstar.com.

[weatherlover427]

Geez, talk about bad luck! :o