Lightning Strikes Homes In Storm

Lightnig strike!

Just before 11pm on Sunday night (19/12/2010) Chelsea SES received a call for assistance from Hicks Street in Parkdale for damage to the building’s roof. On inspection and after speaking with the residents, it soon became apparent that the house had been hit by lightning. Within minutes, the number of calls for help had increased to 20, then 30 and kept climbing steadily through the night to 50 plus jobs throughout the suburbs of Aspendale and Aspendale Gardens.

A section of roof and a tree down in the Rossdale Golf Club car park

Trees down blocking roads, ceiling collapses and roof damage were the order of the day and kept Chelsea’s 4 crews busy right through the night.

More of the Rossdale roof found wrapped around a power pole

Rossdale Golf Club didn’t escape either; a section of roof was torn away above the Pro shop with iron sheets ending up wrapped around a transformer at the top of a power pole about 100 Metres away with another large section in the car park, partially covered by a downed tree.

Work begins to cover the damage left by the lightning strikes

Birdwood Street in Aspendale was one of the worst affected areas with a number of homes reportedly struck by lightning. and one young bloke having a narrow escape from flying glass and roof tiles.

Water damage led to this ceiling collapse in Aspendale gardens

Due to the torrential rain that followed the intense storm, many seemingly simple jobs, where a few tiles had been lost from a roof, became far more significant as rain poured in through ceilings and light fittings.

Tile damage allowed water into the roof leading to the collapse

With the ceiling down and power off, alternate accommodation was needed for this Kearney Drive resident

Not what she wanted for Christmas

This fence was flattened in McIntosh Close, Aspendale gardens

Fences were simply pushed aside as the storm rolled through and extra tarpaulins had to be brought in from Central Region due to the large number of properties with significant roof damage.

The damage following another lightning strike in Birdwood Street, Aspendale

The property was left battered and bruised following the strike

Fixing the holes where the rain gets in!

This strike left a 4 Metre hole which was mirrored on the other side of the roof

One young bloke had a narrow escape from flying glass and roof tiles during the storm. Four year old Ryan had a very rude awakening after tiles from the neighbours roof came crashing through his bedroom window in the early hours of Monday morning.

4 year old Ryan's room after the tiles crashed through his window

Fences were simply pushed aside as the storm rolled through and extra tarpaulins had to be brought in from Central Region due to the large number of properties with significant roof damage.

Ryan was happy to tell his story for the nightly news

Only a week ago, Ryan’s parents had moved his bed from next to the window. Lucky for him, as the roof tiles and shattered glass covered the bedroom floor alongside where the bed had so recently been.

Around lunchtime on Monday (20/12/2010) crews were being called for to relieve the crews that had been working throughout the night.

Heading home for Christmas

The final tasks were completed around 10pm on Monday evening (20/12/2010) and crews stood down for a well deserved rest.