Barn lost to blaze during thunder and lightning storm

She heard a loud clap over her head, the light fixture in her daughter’s room fell down along with all of the pictures, the telephone began ringing and the receiver flew off its hook.

“I didn’t know what to do. I thought the roof was on fire,” she said.

But the home she owns with husband Allan Harris on Old Place Lane in Clyde River was safe.

Looking out the window she saw a large elm tree lying across the driveway. A lightning bolt had exploded the trunk, throwing limbs and chunks of wood at least 100 feet away.

Then she saw smoke through the pouring rain.

The couple’s baby barn, with golf clubs, riding tack, mountain bikes, plumbing tools, four winter tires and more inside, was ablaze.

“I think the hit must have traveled along the roots,” she said, trying to explain how the 12’ x 14’ structure, which is close to 100 feet from the tree, caught on fire.

Across the driveway from the tree, a rough new trench could be seen where she suspects the bolt had followed another root.

Kaulbeck, who was home alone, called the Port Clyde Fire Department. The firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the structure and prevented it from spreading to a shed four-feet away that was full of dry firewood.

Although the barn was insured, Kaulbeck is unsure as to whether the contents will be covered.

“I feel bad about my daughter’s horse stuff. She had won some things for earning high points in competitions,” she said.

“I never realized the strength a lightning strike like that would have.”