by justin strawser
LOCUST TOWNSHIP - Lighting may not strike twice in the same location, but a storm sure can.
A barn in rural Catawissa had its roof ripped off Thursday night by the same storm that toppled trees at Knoebels Amusement Resort. Less than two days later, at 2 a.m. Saturday, a bolt of lightning struck inside the open barn, igniting a fire that burned it to the ground.
The double dose of wicked weather struck at 189 Little Mountain Road, Catawissa, just southeast of Numidia, owned by Kendall Hayman, 27, according to Locust Township Police Patrolman Nick Thorpe.
He said Hayman had removed about 1,000 bales of hay from the barn after Thursday's storm, but about 500 remained when the lightning struck.
"And that's what ultimately fueled it up," Thorpe said, who said the fire burned "hot and fast."
"By the time they (fire crews) got on scene in a few minutes, it was fully engulfed," he said. "They started putting water on it right away, but it was a total loss."
Hayman's brother was able to remove a bull from the barn. No animals nor people were injured in the fire. Hayman is reported to have insurance.
Still smoldering
The rubble was still smoldering Tuesday afternoon. Vehicles and farm equipment could be seen buried beneath burnt wood. Not far from the remnants of the building, a small shed lay collapsed on the ground and another shed was leaning. Pieces of wood were on the ground and a window was boarded up on the house, apparent damage from Thursday's storm.
Efforts to reach Hayman by phone were unsuccessful, and no one was home when a News-Item reporter visited the house Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to Locust Gap Police, rescue personal responding to the scene included Valley Chemical Fire Company of Locust Township and Catawissa and Aristes fire companies.