A powerful lightning strike “heard like a cannon” rocked Santa Rosa’s Oakmont neighborhood early Friday morning, exploding a large redwood tree.
According to the Press Democrat, the strike sent heavy debris crashing through the Monsignor Fahey Parish Center and a nearby office building housing Sonoma County’s ambulance services. Fire officials have red-tagged the church office as unsafe, while the adjacent business center remains under limited use with a yellow tag.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, though the storm caused additional tree damage in Occidental as it doused the North Bay. Residents should remain alert, as the National Weather Service warns that more rain and potential thunderstorms are expected through Monday night.
Fire inspectors and property owners are currently assessing the costly damage.
