A residential property in Glastonbury was severely damaged when lightning struck during a powerful thunderstorm in the early hours of Friday, June 26.
Following a week of soaring temperatures and record heat, the South West was engulfed by thunder and lightning as the heatwave broke dramatically. Residents in towns such as Chard and Yeovil captured vivid images of the storm striking across the region.
At approximately 12:40 a.m., the lightning bolt hit a home in Glastonbury, igniting a fire on the second floor. Smoke quickly billowed from the property, prompting an immediate emergency response. Fire crews from nearby stations were dispatched swiftly after the Fire Control room received the distress call.
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Firefighters, equipped with Breathing Apparatus, entered the building to combat the flames. As the situation escalated, additional resources, including two more fire engines and support vehicles, arrived to assist. Thorough searches were conducted to ensure no residents were trapped, and fortunately, all occupants were accounted for.
The fire service reported that smoke caused approximately 60 percent damage to the property, while fire itself damaged about 20 percent. The blaze was successfully extinguished by 5:50 a.m.
This intense thunderstorm brought a much-needed cooldown after several days of unprecedented heat. Merryfield recorded a temperature of 36.7°C, setting a new provisional June temperature record for the second consecutive day.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Greg Wolverson commented on the extreme conditions: “We’ve witnessed unprecedented heat for June, underscoring how high-temperature extremes are becoming more frequent in the UK due to human-induced climate change. Temperatures may continue to challenge records as warmth shifts eastward, before easing over the weekend.”