A direct hit by lightning caused a barn fire northwest of Wyoming.

Friday night, a heavy storm rolled through Lambton County again which included lots of lightning.

Acting Plympton-Wyoming Fire Chief Scott Jordan says the farm family on Confederation Line watched as lightning hit a three-sided barn filled with fresh hay. It ignited almost immediately.

“The owner’s son was right there and saw the lightning strike,” says Jordan.
The heavy rain in the storm didn’t help quench the flames. “The rain turns to steam before it gets to the roof with the heat,” the chief added.

Fire crews from Wyoming, Camlachie and the Petrolia/North Enniskillen department went to the large cattle farm between Plowing Match and Mandaumin Roads around 5 pm. By 10 pm, Jordan estimates the crews poured 72,000 gallons of water on the blaze.

Smoke could still be seen rising from the hay pile days later. Jordan says the farmer had heavy equipment and pulled apart the hay which kept it from spreading to the nearby cattle barns.

No animals were injured in the blaze. Jordan expects it will cost over $500,000 to replace the barn and the hay.