By Shelby Brooks
In what can only be described as a “shocking” experience, a tree in Emerald has caught on fire after being struck by lightning.
Emerald and Upper Beaconsfield SES crews were called out to a property on Hepner Road in Emerald around 6.30pm Thursday 28 October after reports of a tree on fire.
Emerald CFA captain Paul Yandle said the tree was on a large property and owners had already started to extinguish the blaze with their own fire fighting equipment.
“We just used the hoses that could reach a bit higher to extinguish flames in the taller branches,” he said.
While not a rare natural phenomenon, trees struck by lightening aren’t always caught on camera.
The photo of the tree, taken by the property owners, was shared on the CFA Facebook pages and received hundreds of likes and comments.
Mr Yandle said they see a couple of lightning trees a year.
“In a lightning storm it’s pretty common for a tree to get struck,” he said.
“Thankfully it’s often followed by some rain which is handy.
“Dry lightning storms in summer are very very scary.”
Mr Yandle said trees are often struck at a branch folk and scorch marks can be seen where the lightning reaches the ground.
