Lightning ignites electrical fire

Sprague, Conn. (WTNH) - A barn fire in Sprague was so intense, it melted the backs of nearby cars.

A nearby light fixture was unrecognizable and the barn across the driveway were completely destroyed in a fire. 

John Turner, the victim of the fire, said, "It got burn your face off hot."

Turner heard what sounded like an explosion just before six Monday night and saw a flash coming from his home's electrical panel. But it wasn't his house which was on fire, it was the barn.

Miriam, Turner's daughter, said, "We were still kind of in shock after the flash and I heard noise and I looked outside and I said oh no."

The Turners, who say lightning sparked the destruction, acted quickly. John first tried to use a garden hose but when that didn't work he pulled these recently filled propane tanks from the burning barn.

"I figured you know what if the firemen come here and those things blow up they're dead," Turner said.

He then tried to save his snow blower, lawn mower, and other equipment.

"My prized toys here. Didn't run them far enough because the barn it was just so hot look what it did look at the vehicles here," he said.

Miriam's bunny rabbit was also lost in the fire, along with a boat and a bunch of equipment. Turner says his house was moments away from exploding into flames but firefighters turned their hoses on the house first.

Turner said, "I was waiting for the cars to start blowing up we were down on the street. We were just so amazed that they saved the house."

"So you have something to be thankful for?"

"Absolutely."

Turner now has the task trying to figure out all his losses and assess the damage.