Freak lightning bolt destroys Haxby home leaving family with 'just clothes on their back'

The bolt struck the two-bed terraced home in Haxby on Friday - torching the entire property to the ground in the fire which took hold within minutes.

Every room was 'gutted' by the blaze and the roof collapsed in the home.

A total of five fire crews from across North Yorkshire attended the fire on Friday - using ten pumps and apparatus to attempt to control the flames.

One woman escaped the fire while a man was thankfully out of the home at the time.

A two-year-old boy had been picked up from the home just a few hours before the devastating blaze.

The family are now making inquiries into whether they are covered for 'force majeure' due to the freak nature of the incident.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up - with nearly £6,000 being raised in less than 12 hours for the family.

To donate, click here.The log from the fire by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "5 crews from Huntington, York and Acomb have dealt with a fire to a domestic property following a lightning strike.

"The end terraced property suffered extensive fire, heat and smoke damage to the whole building.

"Crews used 10 breathing apparatus, 4 hosereel jets, various ladders, lighting, hand tools and thermal imaging cameras."

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Thank you

Laura Collins