MIRACLE ESCAPE
Family lucky to be alive as house bursts into flames after being struck by lightning bolt
A FAMILY are lucky to be alive as a house burst into flames after being struck by a lightning bolt.
Two-year-old Miles Brooks was collected by his mum Claire just hours before his dad's Haxby, North Yorkshire house was blown to bits last night.
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The tot’s room was the first to burn and his local radio presenter mum, 30, said he would normally be tucked up in bed and would not have stood a chance of survival.
Five engines with around 25 firefighters raced out to battle the blaze after being called out at around 8.15pm.
Crews used 10 breathing apparatus and four horsereel jets among other equipment in a two-hour battle to control the flames.
Cops, who were also on the scene, said no one was injured after everybody safely evacuated.
But it left the house destroyed as the lightning bolt put a 10ft hole in the roof and shattered windows.
A pizza delivery man who dived for cover in the street at first thought two houses had been struck.
One eyewitness Joe Holdsworth said: "About ten minutes before it happened we were in the back garden, and we saw this massive flash in the sky.
"We even said 'Bloody hell. That was low'. About ten minutes later we went inside.
"The pizza man came to the door and he said, ‘Do you know, there’s two houses on fire in the next street?’
"We got the pizzas and put them down, and got to the field. At that point, the flames were visible and were coming out of the windows.
"And about five minutes later, the roof went in.
We got the pizzas and put them down, and got to the field. At that point, the flames were visible and were coming out of the windows.
Eyewitness Joe Holdsworth
Pictures of the grim aftermath showed the roof in Garths End had completely caved in.
Video footage also showed the house up in flames and engulfed in smoke as firefighters worked tirelessly to put it out.
Another eyewitness driving home told local paper : "I was driving through Earswick back from Monks Cross and I saw loads of black smoke coming from Haxby.
"I knew straight away it was a house on fire so I drove there and found it was down Garths End. I was one of the first to arrive before the emergency services."
Owners of parked cars jumped into their vehicles after being alerted by fire fighters to drive them away from the wall of heat and prevent secondary explosions.
A North Yorkshire Fire Service spokesperson said: "Five 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."
North Yorkshire Police posted to Twitter last night: "@NYorksPolice and @NorthYorksFire are currently in attendance at a property in #Haxby which has been struck by lightning.
"No injuries are reported and the property has been evacuated. Local residents are advised to stay clear of the area to allow emergency services to deal."
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It came as Yorkshire was battered by thunder and lightning storms.
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A yellow weather warning was issued by the Met Office for thunderstorms expected to hit the area from 4pm yesterday.
Forecasters even predicted there could be "damage to buildings or structures" as the scorching 33C heat took a downward turn.
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