'It was pretty crazy': Lightning strike blows chimney into Burnaby backyard
The rare thunderstorm that struck Metro Vancouver Saturday night left some notable damage in its wake.
Firefighters were called to the 8500 block of Portland Street near Byrne Creek Ravine Park around 7 p.m. after lightning struck the chimney of a home in the area.
Burnaby Fire Department Asst. Chief Mark Forsberg told CTV News Vancouver the lightning struck the home's main chimney, where the furnace and hot-water tank vented.
"The bulk of the chimney was blown up and ended up on the back lawn," Forsberg said.
Twenty firefighters responded to the scene, inspecting the inside of the home to make sure there was no additional damage, and working to shore up the roof to prevent rain from getting inside.
At one point, lightning flashed overhead as a firefighter was on the roof.
Forsberg said the officer in charge at that time ordered everyone off the roof due to safety concerns.
Chelsea Neville lives nearby. She told CTV News she came outside after hearing the lightning strike and emergency sirens.
"It was pretty crazy," she said. "I've never seen anything like this before."
No one was injured in the lightning strike, Forsberg said, noting the unusual nature of the call.
"I've had it once before in my career," he said. "Storms along here that produce lightning are rare, so not a common occurrence, for certain, but it's destructive when it does take place."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.