WILD WEATHER STRIKES MID-CAPE: Lightning, fire, flooding… [VIDEOS]
MASHPEE – Firefighters had to battle the pounding rain while responding to fire alarms and lightning strikes across the Cape.
Last night firefighters from Mashpee and Cotuit responded to a fire alarm at the Cotuit Bay Condominiums at 418 Quinaquisset Ave.
They began investigating what appeared to be a false alarm at one building when they were flagged down regarding a fire in the neighboring building across the street.
A condo resident said there had been a sudden lightning strike and thunder clap that was “louder than hell.” He smelled smoke and went over to see if his neighbor was alright.
The resident observed flames shooting out from his neighbors indoor natural gas fireplace. It appeared and sounded as if the gas pipe had ruptured.
Flames were beginning to climb up the wall above the fireplace when firefighters arrived in the nick of time and began attacking the flames.
The natural gas company was immediately contacted while firefighters tore into the wall…
One firefighter said he was tearing into the fireplace unit when the built up pressure suddenly blew up in his face. The burst actually knocked him back. The firefighter, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was glad he was properly wearing his mask.
The fire was quickly contained but he condo suffered significant water and smoke damage. The female resident and her small Maltese dog managed to evacuate safely. The resident told HN she would be displaced by the fire until things were cleaned up and repaired. She was happy to have her dog and a temporary place to stay inside the condo complex. Firefighters and police helped her gather some of her belongings.
The quick response and preparedness of firefighters definitely prevented a potentially explosive situation from becoming much worse.
The following video highlights the scene and weather conditions… [HN note: video available in 1080p HD… Press play… select HD in settings…]
Additional footage:
HYANNIS/WEST YARMOUTH
The following video highlights a little of the wild weather in the Hyannis/West Yarmouth area last night… It starts by showing a pitch black rainy Veteran’s Beach in Hyannis suddenly illuminated by lightning… (I only wish I had arrived there about 15 minutes earlier when there was a steady amount of lightning bolts…)… The video then shows a flooded section of Route 28 in West Yarmouth at around midnight. One car flooded and stalled. Good Samaritans stopped to help push the disabled vehicle out of the roadway. [Press play]
10/23/2014
Robert Bastille,
