Lightning hits tree, sparks fire that destroys house

KILLS TWO DOGS

By Andrea L. Buchanan ~ Southeast Missourian

A freak lightning strike caused a house fire Thursday in Cape Girardeau, destroying the home and killing two dogs inside.

Firefighters say lighting struck a tree in the yard of 1130 N. West End Blvd., scattering limbs for hundreds of yards.

The electrical surge continued down to a water meter, followed the line into the house and literally exploded through the wires, melting the copper and starting the fire.

"It was really a bad-luck fire," said battalion chief Robert Kembel.

William Borneman lived in the home with his wife, Theresa, and two dogs, a black Labrador retriever and a schnauzer.

Neither Borneman was at home at the time of the fire.

According the fire reports, emergency crews were called to the scene about 10:30 a.m., by the next-door neighbors.

Donald Kessee said he was sitting at his kitchen table when the lightning struck.

"It was so close, at first I thought it blew my roof off," Keesee said. "It knocked pictures off my wall."

Keesee and his brother went outside and first saw the neighbor's tree on fire and branches blown everywhere.

Then they saw the smoking house.

"I went inside and called 911, then I went back over to try and save those dogs," Keesee said.

By that time the choking smoke prevented him from getting near enough to the house to help the animals.

Fire Capt. Charles Brawley said there was so much smoke when he arrived firefighters couldn't see the house.

Firefighters found the dogs unconscious in the home and tried to revive them with CPR techniques, but were unsuccessful.

"We know how attached people are to their pets, so we do everything we can to get them out," Brawley said. "I've got two dogs myself."

Three of Cape Girardeau's four fire station crews responded to the blaze, and the Jackson Fire Department was also called in to help.

Kembel said damage to the house probably left it beyond repair.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160