NEW SALEM — Quick response from area firefighters prevented major damage to a home struck by lightning at 16 Cooleyville Road in New Salem Friday afternoon.
Home owner Rod Raubeson was at home when the lightning struck, causing a fire in the wall of the first level of the wooden structure. Raubeson’s wife, Lorraine Flye, was not at home during the fire but the family dog was and was placed in a vehicle while firefighters tore into the exterior wall of the home along the foundation and tore down ceilings inside the home to extinguish any remaining flames.
Situated up on a hill with a long driveway, Raubeson said this is the third time his house has been struck by lightning — once two years ago and once more five years earlier.
Responding to the scene were New Salem, Shutesbury, Montague Center, Orange, Erving and Wendell fire departments.