Severe storms cross the Cape-lightning strikes cause fires, power outages

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CAPE COD
– A series of severe storms crossed the Cape late Friday evening into early Saturday morning prompting several warnings. The first line affected mainly the outer Cape with a lot of lightning and heavy rain. A tree fell near the Marconi site in Wellfleet after apparently being struck by lightning.

About an hour later a second line affected the Upper and Mid Cape. Lightning struck one of the units at the South Port community in Mashpee. Heavy smoke filled 21 North Ridge Road and crews had to douse a fire in the basement and check for extension to the first floor. Everyone got out of the building safely but they will have to stay elsewhere until repairs can be made. Lightning also struck a tree in Mashpee causing it to catch fire. About 500 Eversource customers in Falmouth lost power and Falmouth firefighters were kept busy checking several lightning strikes and small fires that resulting from them.The National Weather Service received several reports of trees down in Falmouth and Mashpee.

A third line moved across the bay side of the Cape early Saturday morning. A house at 246 Mayfair Road in Dennis was struck by lightning about 2:15 a.m. rattling the occupants awake and causing a smoke condition in the home but no significant damage. Dennis Fire tells Cape Wide News: “The Dennis Fire Department along with Yarmouth Fire Department responded to a reported lightning strike at 2:18 a.m. Saturday morning.

The occupied single story structure at 246 Mayfair Road, South Dennis sustained damage to the right back corner of the house. A metal dog run conducted the strike which blew a hole in the back wall of the kitchen, displacing sheet rock and exterior trim from the building.

When fire units arrived the occupants were out of the house and no injuries were reported. Firefighters found a smoke condition in the house but no obvious fire. The house was checked with thermal imaging to assure the fire was out. An electrical breaker for the kitchen was tripped.” In addition, 112 Eversource customers lost power in Yarmouth as this line of storms moved through.
Photo courtesy of Det. Richard Alves/Provincetown Police

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