Quebec, June 17: Two homes were destroyed and a third was badly damaged after a lightning strike on Montreal’s North Shore during a severe thunderstorm that swept through southern Quebec Thursday afternoon.
Police say a bolt of lightning struck one home at around 4:15 p.m. and set a house on fire on Cerisiers Street in the off-island suburb of Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac. High winds caused sparks from the fire to quickly spread to two neighbouring homes.
Two people were treated for smoke inhalation on site but did not need to be hospitalized. Nine residents were evacuated from their homes and have been taken in by the Red Cross and family or friends, he added.
It was pretty difficult because when [firefighters] got there the fire was pretty intense. Many hours after getting there they were still fighting the fire.”
Firefighters from four neighbouring municipalities helped battle the blaze and were still on-site as of 9 p.m.
