Neighbor: Two lightning strikes led to fire that destroyed home

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — So much for the theory that lightning never strikes twice.

A neighbor says fire destroyed a Leland home a pair of lightning strikes hit it during this afternoon’s severe weather.

Mike Shaughnessy says he and his wife were at their home on Evangeline Drive in Brunswick Forest around 5 p.m. when they thought lightning hit it. They called 911, and the operator told them to leave their house. As they waited in their car for the fire department, they noticed some shingles in the yard. Leland Fire Chief John Grimes says his crews checked the house, including the attic, and found no fire.

After firefighters left, Shaughnessy says he and his wife noticed even more bits of shingle in front of the house next door, which they were watching because the owners were on vacation in High Point. That led them to believe that house had been hit by lightning, so the couple used the key they had to go in and check the house to make sure it wasn’t on fire.

“My wife went upstairs and said she didn’t smell anything,” Shaughnessy said, “and them bam!”

That’s when he said another bolt of lightning hit his neighbors’ home. As he looked up the stairs to his wife, Shaughnessy said she was silhouetted by the flash. They quickly got out and called 911 as well as their neighbors to let them know about what they thought was a small fire. Crews, though, could not stop it.

Winnabow Fire Chief Travis Mercer, whose department was one of at least four on scene, along with crews from Leland, Navassa and St. James, said the home is a total loss. Grimes said the owners, who neighbors say were on their way back to Leland tonight, may be able to salvage some possessions.

Neither chief disputed Shaugnessy’s belief lightning hit the house twice.

Grimes and Mercer said one firefighter was treated after he overheated, but he quickly felt better and went back to work. They said there were no other injuries.