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

A freak lightning bolt during a storm on Friday caused a devastating fire which destroyed an entire Yorkshire home - leaving the family inside with 'just the 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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

The lightning bolt caused a huge fire at the homeThe lightning bolt caused a huge fire at the home
The lightning bolt caused a huge fire at the home

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A message from the Editor: Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890. We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds. Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe. For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins

News you can trust since 1754
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice