EVERETT — Jeannie Nichols and her family were watching TV on Wednesday night, listening to the deep rumbling of thunder and watching lightning flash outside their Everett home. The sky had taken on an eerie purple hue.
Then came the boom.
“My husband said, ‘Oh, I smell smoke,’” Nichols said.
The lights flickered out and the house shook. Nichols, her daughter and their two dogs hurried outside into the pouring rain, making their way to their neighbor’s house. For a moment, she didn’t know where her husband was — until she stepped outside and saw him on the roof of the garage, trying to put out the fire with a hose.
Around 8:30 p.m., the Everett Fire Department responded to the blaze in the 3200 block of Kromer Avenue, according to a social media post. Crews quickly extinguished the fire on the roof before it spread, though the home’s electrical system suffered significant damage.
Upstairs, their home office had taken the brunt of the strike. Sooty patterns of black, brown and yellow streaked the walls, outlets were scorched, and a section of the wall had been cut away — firefighters’ work to contain the flames on the roof. The outlet next to the computer had melted.
Nichols’ neighbor up the street, David Peterson, was in his kitchen when the lightning struck.
“The whole kitchen lit up,” Peterson said. “It was the brightest and closest I’ve ever been to lightning.”
Moments later, his power — and the rest of the street’s — went dark.
In Nichols’ home, the force of the strike moved the wall of the office slightly, pushed out a window — though the glass didn’t shatter — and left deep char marks along the seams of the room. The space had once been her daughter’s bedroom, but no one was inside at the time.
“The fire damage isn’t too bad,” Nichols said. “It’s mostly outside and some inside. Everyone is safe, and that’s the important thing.”
About 10 minutes later, Camano Island Fire & Rescue responded to three calls from homes in the 300 block of Glengarry Drive in the Camaloch neighborhood, according to Fire Chief Jason Allen. Two of the homes sustained damage.
In one case, lightning struck a backyard tree, traveling through the ground and into the home, igniting a smoldering fire in the crawl space, blowing out two windows and damaging part of the foundation, Allen said. Another home had a window blown out and damage to the drywall in one room.
No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
“In my five years with Camano Fire I don’t remember responding to any lightning strikes,” spokesperson Bronlea Mishler said.
Rachael Doniger, spokesperson for Everett Fire, echoed this sentiment, noting that lightning strike calls are extremely rare in Everett.
“It was such a strange storm,” Nichols said.
Everett Fire safety tips for severe weather
• Install working smoke alarms and check them monthly.
• Unplug electronics before storms to prevent power surge fires.
• Avoid using wired electronics like landline phones or desktop computers during lightning.
• Stay indoors and away from windows, metal fixtures and plumbing.
• Use flashlights, not candles, during power outages.
• Have a fire escape and emergency plan and sign up for Smart911 alerts.
In the event that your home gets struck by lightning, Everett Fire recommends following these seven steps:
• Call 911 immediately, even if you don’t see flames. Fires can start inside walls or electrical systems.
• Evacuate safely if you smell smoke, hear popping sounds, or see damage. Stay outside until emergency responders clear the home.
• Check for fire signs like scorch marks, burning smells, or smoke in the attic or near the roof—only if it’s safe.
• Avoid touching outlets or electronics, as hidden electrical damage can pose shock or fire risks.
• Shut off power at the breaker if you don’t see fire and feel safe doing so.
• Document damage for insurance, taking photos or videos before filing a claim.
• Schedule an inspection by a licensed electrician and possibly a structural expert to assess hidden damage.
Aspen Anderson: 425-339-3192; aspen.anderson@heraldnet.com; X: @aspenwanderson.
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