Lightning strike on Bexhill house was like a 'bomb going off', says witness

A direct lightning strike severely damaged a house in Bexhill, East Sussex, causing a fire that an eyewitness described as sounding "like a bomb going off".

The incident took place early in the morning on Saturday, 27 June 2026, amidst intense regional thunderstorms.

🚨 The Incident at Long Avenue

• Location: The strike targeted a residential property on Long Avenue, Bexhill. 
• Time: Emergency teams were alerted just before 12:20 AM on 27 June 2026. 
• Emergency Response: The East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) dispatched four fire engines after receiving 16 frantic 999 emergency calls. 
• Complications: Active lightning strikes and live overhead power lines severely hindered early firefighting efforts. Crews used an aerial ladder platform as a water tower once the weather cleared. 

👁️ Eyewitness and Damage Reports

• The Blast: Local residents reported a deafening explosion, comparing the sheer impact to a bomb detonation.
• Community Response: Brave neighbors initially rushed out with domestic garden hosepipes to contain the flames, but the roof fire had already taken full hold.
• Property Damage: The home suffered serious, extensive structural damage, particularly across the roof and upper walls.
• Casualties: Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the home's occupants were away on holiday during the storm. 

⛈️ Wider Regional Context

The destructive event in Bexhill was part of a broader severe weather front hitting the South East. A yellow weather warning for lightning had been put in place by the Met Office.