Owners of a semi-detached house on Norman Crescent in Pinner whose roof caught fire will today be ruing their rotten luck – although mercifully, they were not at home at the time. An American study found that as many as one in 200 houses get struck by lightning annually, though many fewer catch fire.
The London Fire Brigade received several calls to the scene just after 1.30pm. An LFB spokesperson said 21 firefighters tackled the blaze, which was under control by 3.15pm.
Vicky Bull – who took the picture below – was only 10 doors away from the house. “I didn’t see any lightning. I just heard one massive thunder clap and a few mins later saw smoke rolling past my window,” she said.
Though such events are very rare the world over, people in developing countries, which have fewer tall buildings and more flammable ones, are much more likely to be killed by lightning than those living in advanced economies.
Lightning strikes #Pinner home & was fuelled by a fully stocked loft http://t.co/RFXhuPFMEQ © @GaryGuzzelled pic.twitter.com/iQ8CHFDYO2
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) May 20, 2015
Photo taken by Vicki Bull (@chafferty), who lives just 10 doors down from the fire
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
