Lightning strikes house, starts fire on Rochester’s Penrose Street

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — As the thunderstorms passed through our area Sunday afternoon, lightning struck a house on Penrose Street on the city’s north side, starting a fire in the attic. News10NBC is told the family heard the lightning hit the house, and the power was interrupted. They went up to the attic, saw smoke and called 9-1-1 around 3:30pm Sunday.

Deputy Fire Chief Michael Dobbertin of the Rochester Fire Department said fire calls from lightning strikes are unusual.

"It’s pretty rare that we actually have a lightning strike and hit a home, obviously trees much higher trees and stuff it hits a lot, but not often do we have it actually hit the house," Dobbertin observed.

The family of five – two adults and three children – was able to get outside to safety. No one was hurt. The fire department said the damage was minor enough that the family is able to stay there after firefighters left.