EDISON — A two-story home on Sarah Court was left temporarily uninhabitable after lightning struck the roof of the home during a fast-moving, heavy rain storm on Aug. 11, according to township fire Capt. Andy Toth.
The lightning strike caused a fire at the home, located on a cul-de-sac off New Brooklyn Road around 7:20 a.m., Toth said.
“There was substantial damage to the roof, attic and the home’s second floor,” he said.
After smelling smoke upstairs, the home’s occupants and other family members quickly left the house. The family later told authorities they would make their own temporary living arrangements during repairs, according to Toth.
“When Edison firefighters got inside the house they saw smoke, but flames were not visible,” Toth said, explaining they used thermal imaging cameras to detect and extinguish the fire inside the roof, attic walls and second-floor ceiling.