Lightning strike.

[tony sayer]

In article [e-mail]>, Dave Plowman (News) [e-mail]> scribeth thus

Yes over time seem aerials and d feeders vaporised and bricks blown out of walls it seems its the rapid heating that makes most any moisture turn into explosive steam that mainly does that.

Had a near miss here one day bloody loud flash and bang took out the aerial distribution amp!..

Theres a roll of Furze ally earthing tape and rods that I've been meaning to install when i get aroundtuit!..

Good website here that will text you early warnings if you want them!...

[tony sayer]

Yes step voltage gradient its called, there are vids of footballers collapsing due to that effect. Can be a million of more volts over a short distance!..

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yes. a lightning strike can be anything from a few volts induced surge on a nearby line, to a direct GodHatesYou strike that is instantly lethal to animal life and to most wiring.

When I lived in J'oburg, all the phones would tinkle on nearby strikes, but a direct strike would burn the house down.

I remember cuddling a gin and tonic and watching from a balcony as a strike hit the ground 50 meters in front of me, and a dull glow lit up the sky where another house was burning.

[tony sayer]

Well look up the "rolling ball" method of assessing a strike likelihood they very often come in from the side as thats to the strike, discharge rather! is coming from so the side of a church or building is a better path to ground than that pylon or mast that you might think was the better target!...

[tony sayer]

In article [e-mail]>, Rod Speed [e-mail] scribeth thus

It can and does in a direct full on strike it causes the wiring to act like a fuse and expand, more like explode!, and it will blow the plaster off the walls which can take a lot of time to put right seeing it might have done other damage like a possible fire!...

[tony sayer]

In article [e-mail]>, Dave Plowman (News) [e-mail]> scribeth thus

Yes it can if the discharge e current is strong enough and where the wiring may be on overheads..

[newshound]

Nearest I have been to one was to a house whose garden backed on to ours, less than 100 metres away. I was standing by our back door at the time and the effectively simultaneous flash and bang certainly made me jump. That took out some of the chimney brickwork and a good proportion of the tiles on one side of the roof. (I recognise that these are not particularly securely attached).