Lightning Strike Melts Gas Line

Morning storms lit up the night sky with hundreds of lightning bolts.

Officials in Beavercreek said lightning struck a tree and left a homeowner without natural gas supply to his house.

Bob Swartz said he woke up at 6 a.m. when lightning struck his tree and started a fire around its base.

Swartz said “Where you can see its burnt here on the ground. Then, it ran up the tree to that point.”

The fire not only burnt the tree, but it also melted the gas line going into the house.

Swartz said, “I didn’t even think about the gas line. I just thought the tree was on fire because it was just running up the side of the tree.”

Crews from Vectren were called and shut off the gas line to the man’s house in order to fix it. Vectren crews said they do not encounter this very often.

Dave Bunch from Team Fishel said, “It’s very unusual. I’ve been doing this for 31 years. It’s the first one I’ve seen.”

This is the not the first time that a lightning strike has led to a melted gas line on the street.

Matt Pettit from Team Fishel said, “Two houses down, just a couple of weeks ago, it happened. It’s pretty crazy. Same side of the street and everything.”

Swartz said, “Vectren said they are taking care of the whole thing. Yeah, they’re putting a new meter in. They’re putting in a new line and taking care of it for me. So, I appreciate that.”