Lightening, Close Call

[catvet]

Not really about tractor safety but we were at our remote property yesterday milling some logs (did use the tractor to get the logs to the mill ). When a storm started. Didn't think much about the rain since the mill is under a roof. All of a sudden, big BOOM and smoke coming from a tree about 75 feet from us. Lightening had struck a huge pine tree and run down to the ground. Don't know if it made a difference but we were glad we were on a wood floor under cover. Don't want a repeat to try the experiment.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/4200/sort/1/cat/661/page/1

It looks like the juice ran down through the bark of the tree. Don't know what it did to the inside. Probably have to call a professional to take down. Too close to buildings to have fall wrong way.

 

[txdon]

What a coincidence! Lighting hit us today also during a quick 2" rain & thunderstorm. At the BOOM the wife saw sparks fly from the electrical outlet near the wood burning stove and we both smelled burned wood on the porch (all wood cabin). After searching for an hour and not locating the point where it hit we gave up looking. Scared us! It's been 10 hours now and there is no sign of smoke or fire. I guess we got lucky this time, the lights never flickered and no breakers tripped. We don't have the "proof" like you do.

 

[catvet]

Talked with neighbors yesterday, their house is about 100 feet from the tree. Their circuit breakers were tripped and when they flip one back on they hear a "clicking" outside.

The oddest thing was when they turned on their shower the water ran purple for quite awhile. Must have disturbed some soil layer.

 

[Thomas]

Morning Jerry.
Keep an extra open today,for they are calling for hard boomers...skies are darkening down fast here...yikes.

 

[jbrumberg]

Shallow rooted trees are the most dangerous to stand under during thunderstorms. The lightening will run down the tree and continue through its root system. Several years ago several hiker/campers where electrocuted while standing under an evergreen tree in the Adirondack State Park. This happens to cows all the time. I have seen a tree literally explode when the lightening superheated its sap . I have experienced all the previous posters' observations except the purple water, but lightening will stir up whatever material is in your well. I used to get alot of fine granite material in my toilet bowl tank after some close "hits". I have been watching doppler radar this morning there are already little "cells" starting to develop north of me in VT an NH. It could get interesting later today. Jay

 

[catvet]

I appreciate the dangers of lightening. I lost a cousin to a lightening strike in the Rockies about 20 years ago. Wasn't expecting anything so dramatic the other day. Seemed like was just rain, not electric storm.

 

[JW1554]

We had lightning hit a power pole about 100' from the house. Shredded the top of the pole, left the transformer dangling, dropped a hot line into wet trees where it sparked and flamed for about an hour until the crew arrived. Also blew a hole in a copper water line under our house. Scary stuff!

 

[BotaBigot]

Lightning hit an oak in front yard a while back. Stripped bark from top down, and laid it out radially around tree. From there, went 25' to well. Blew submerged pump and melted pump wiring as it came into house. Got everything electrical in house that was turned on...water heater elements, microwave, light bulbs, and stove. Stove was most interesting. Wife was at work and I was fixing dinner for boys and me. I was heating pot of water and lightning burned hole in pot bottom and welded the piece to heating element. All the water ran out of pot. Glad no one had hand on pot handle...or anything else metal.

As for catvet's comment about being on wood floor under cover, one summer on active duty with Army Reserves, lightning hit parade field several hundred feet away while we were at lunch in mess hall. I happened to be sitting with my leg against metal table leg at the time, and felt a tingle thru fatigue trousers.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I responded to a house fire one time that was due to a lightning strike, the orriginal strike was a pine tree, it flowed into a chainlink fence, welded the gate latches shut, and caught the siding of the house on fire.

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Catvet,
We had a number of cells come through our area also. No lightning strikes in our immediate vicinity so I guess we got lucky ! Glad you made it through unscathed !