Lightning strikes several Avon homes

AVON, Ind, (WISH) - What a difference a few hours makes. It was dark, rainy and gloomy most of the day Saturday, but by the time evening rolled around the sun couldn't hide behind the clouds any longer.

A thunderstorm rolled through Avon Saturday afternoon. Lightning lit up the sky and struck three homes in the same subdivision in Hendricks County.

Five different fire departments responded to an Avon subdivision to help. While one department was battling flames at one home fire crews were busy helping out other homeowners in the neighborhood.

Firefighters cut a huge hole in the floor of Ron Brown's family room to get to a fire brewing in the basement.

They say lightning struck his home while his family was at the mall. When Brown returned he noticed his garage door wouldn't work and his dog was acting strangely.

"I opened the basement door as I was leaving just to see as much as a I could and found that the basement was full smoke," Brown said.

As firefighters battled the flames, more departments arrived to help the homeowner across the street and another home down the road.

"Residences basically across from each other and trying to get fire trucks in from two different directions lining up the street trying to take care of both residences at the same time. It was confusing," explained Battalion Chief Jon Joseph with the Avon Fire Department.

Lightning struck 2 other homes, however the fire chief says the damage is minor compared to Brown's home.

The house's electrical system is fried, his daughters bedroom is charred, and the smell of smoke clings to everything in the home.

In a recent study, Indiana had the nation's 7th highest number of lightning strikes per square mile.

The State Fire Marshal says over the past five years lightning sparked fire in nearly 700 homes. The National Lightning Safety Institute estimates that one out of every 200 homes will be struck by lightning at some time.

Brown says he's dealt with Mother Nature in the past, "When we had the tornado a year and half ago that come through this neighborhood. It tried to take my roof off."

He just didn't think he'd have to deal with her again so soon.

Brown's family runs a licensed day care out of their home. He says neighbors have offered their houses to run the day care while the Brown's get their home repaired.