.
Feedback

Bradley Road House Struck By Lightning, Catches Fire

Fire spread quickly through attic.

Lightning struck a home on Bradley Road and quickly spread through the attic Friday evening, according to the Scarsdale Fire Department.

A two-story wood-frame residence at 180 Bradley Road was struck by lightning at approximately 5:49 p.m. The daughter of the family who resides at the home apparently heard the strike, felt the house shake, and told her father, according to Captain Matthew Mann.

The father then pulled down the attic stairs and noticed melting foam, likely some kind of insulation, and saw the fire.

He closed the attic door and attempted to call the fire department but the house phone was not working. At that point, said Capt. Mann, the father and daughter left the house. 

A volunteer Scarsdale firefighter named Jeff Hill who lives across the street from the residence saw the lightning strike and ran to the house to warn the family to evacuate.

Hill also made the call to the fire department and the first truck arrived four minutes later. Firefighters opened the attic roof and knocked down the fire before it spread anywhere else in the house. 

"We were informed of the fire fairly early, which helps," said Capt. Mann. "Had we been delayed anymore they would have lost the entire house."

Eight Scarsdale vehicles responded to the incident. The Hartsdale FAST team also assisted. Con Edison shut off power.

Captain Mann said the house sustained smoke and water damage. 

Captain John Saviano conducted the investigation. 

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Scarsdale Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Loading comments ...
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Kim May 19, 2013 at 11:46 am
If this is happening in a community like Scarsdale, then as a taxpayer I am irritated. Where are allRead More the taxes going if teachers are paying for their own classroom supplies? There has to be some degree of accountability regarding our tax dollars. We are the highest-taxed county in the nation and we can't afford notebooks and post-it notes? As a community member, I am not going to "lend a hand." I already do that with my tax dollars.