Lightning causes damage across our area

(WPRI) - Several lightning strikes were recorded across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts on Thursday, as isolated severe thunderstorms barrelled across the area for a second straight day.

Lightning hit a tree in Seekonk, and the tree  took down a powerline, sparking a small house fire on Sims Avenue.

"It energized much of the area in the lower portion and the fire started in the area of the computer," says Seekonk Fire Chief Alan Jack.  "We had heavy smoke and fire in the lower level."

Firefighters were able to keep the damage contained to a small area, but the home was left temportarily unlivable.  No one was injured.

A lightning strike was also reported at the home of Louise Rezendes on 5th Street in East Providence.

"I just heard a noise," she tells Eyewitness News.  "I was in the bedroom and I just heard the noise."

Moments after that noise, her neighbor noticed smoke coming from a clothesline in Louise's back yard, about 15 feet from her garage.

Louise tells us she feels lucky no one was hurt.

Other lightning strikes were reported in Cumberland, where the jolt actually knocked part of a fireplace off a family's wall, as well as North Kingstown and Rehoboth.

No serious injuries have been reported in Rhode Island, but one person was killed on Cape Cod.

42-year-old Christopher West died Wednesday, after he was struck by lightning while shellfishing on a boat in Orleans.

Another man was shocked, but escaped serious injury.