Lightning strikes down diy dreams in a flash

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By Rob Lockyear | 4th December 2008

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A LIGHTNING strike is suspected of sending a Hatton Vale home up in flames yesterday just weeks after the owners finished a four-year renovation.

Dean and Sue Withers watched in disbelief as fire crews hosed down the smouldering shell of their Norman Court home that they had given up every waking hour to complete.

“We have just done little bits every day and every weekend,” Mr Withers said.

“All that work is gone.”

Mr Withers was working in his neighbour's yard just before 4pm when a violent storm passed over.

He said there was an enormous crack as lightning struck the house and set off his security alarm but when he went to investigate smoke was already billowing out from the windows.

He grabbed the hose as flames began to flare but a power cut had taken out the pump and within minutes the house was gutted.

“EVERYTHING is gone, photos the lot,” he said.

“We have got to start again.”

Mrs Withers broke down as she arrived at the house, but was thankful no one was home when the fire broke out.

She said she had taken her daughter to the movies but had decided to go in the afternoon to try and dodge the evening's forecasted storm.

“We are normally sitting in there every afternoon,” Mrs Withers said.

Neighbour Linda Wellington said she smelt smoke and the next minute the fibro house was an inferno.

“The whole lounge room was alight with flames coming out of the windows,” Mrs Wellington said.

“It was just instant.”

The Withers' daughter celebrated her birthday in the past couple of days and lost all of her presents in the fire.

Nine fire units including Queensland Rural Fire Services rushed to the site.

Ipswich station officer Ian Bland said the fire investigation unit would attend the scene but early indications suggested the wild weather contributed to the blaze.

“At this stage it appears the house has been struck by lightning,” Mr Bland said.