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'The chimney kind of blew up': Lightning strike sends bricks crashing to ground in South End

Lightning strike sends bricks crashing to ground in Boston's South End
Lightning strike sends bricks crashing to ground in Boston's South End 02:19

BOSTON - Lightning struck a brownstone in Boston's South End Thursday evening, sending bricks crashing to the sidewalk on Mass. Ave. below.

When firefighters arrived, they found quite a mess of debris.

South End lightning strike
Bricks fell to the sidewalk on Mass. Ave after lightning struck a chimney CBS Boston

"The chimney kind of blew up when it got hit by the lightning," said Boston Fire District Chief Robert Counihan. "Lots of bricks fell down. Luckily nobody was walking by and no one got injured."

Neighbors said the lightning strike rocked their homes.

"Sitting at the dining room table when this gigantic flash of lightning and instant thunder, it was a huge thunderclap, like an explosion," said Michael Borum. "I jumped out of my chair and ran to the window."

South End lightning damage
Bricks fell onto an SUV in the South End after lightning struck a chimney CBS Boston

Outside, traffic on Mass Ave had stopped. Everyone was startled by what they heard and saw.

Bricks were thrown onto cars and an iron fence was knocked over by the bricks.

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