Lightning strike on Wrexham home

Tag : Home Electrical Appliances
Alan and Heather Conwy were sitting in their Elm Grove home withsons Craig, 18, and Jamie, 19, last night at about 10.30pm when alightning bolt struck their aerial and destroyed a number oftelevisions and other electrical appliances.

Four rooms were left badly smoke damaged and guttering to theexterior of the house was also affected.

Alan said: "We were just sitting there watching TV. We heard theone bang and the wife said 'that was close' and then the next onewas even closer."

The lightning came down through aerial sockets in four differentrooms and destroyed TVs, plug sockets, and other appliances nearby.

"There was a lamp in the corner of the living which was blown intothe air," said Alan.

"Chairs were left blackened. It's a good job the electricity systemhad a trip switch or else it could have been a lot worse."

Crews were called out to the house after receiving reports thatsockets to televisions in five different rooms had been affected bythe strike, as storms lashed the region.

Crews were then called out less than an hour later to anotherproperty on Russell Grove after residents reported a smell ofburning from electrical equipment.

A spokesman for the service said: "Two crews were mobilised afterthe call out to Elm Grove at 10.31pm. Reports were received that alightning strike had hit the aerial and set fire to the sockets oftelevision sets in five different rooms.

"The plugs on the sets were left heat damaged and there was lightsmoke damage to the remainder of the property.

"We then received a call at 11.23pm and went to a property onRussell Grove after we received reports lightning strike hadstopped the electrical equipment working. Residents becameconcerned because they said they could smell burning."