ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Fire investigators say a lightning bolt struck the roof of a home in Round Rock and started a house fire. It happened just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the Lake Forest subdivision. The home was consumed within minutes.
The home belonged to Betty and Lee Tucker. Betty is a school teacher at Pflugerville High School and her husband is retired. Betty was watching TV just down the hall from where the lightning struck.
"It sounded like a bomb went off. Then it sounded like airplanes were flying, and all I can figure is it was the lightning traveling," Betty said. "I came downstairs, and as I stood there talking to my husband, I said, 'I smell smoke.'"
After the couple smelled smoke, they ran to a neighbor's home to call 911. They both made it out safely, but their home could be a complete loss.
"We heard a very loud boom, less than a second away, and we knew it was close," neighbor Sean Walsh said. "We saw an orange flow in the background."
Round Rock firefighters fought the flames as part of the house collapsed.
"It was unbelievable how quickly the fire spread," Walsh said. "The house was pretty much engulfed within five or ten minutes."
Sunday neighbors stopped by to offer the Tuckers help as they started to assess the damage.
"This is the best neighborhood," Betty said. "I will tell you they are fabulous. The love that been shown to us in unbelievable."
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Lightning-causes-house-fire-in-Round-Rock-150351675.html
Follow the links below for additional footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry0mScXhKSg
