Instant ignition
BY SALLY HIND A DAD yesterday told of his horror at seeing his family’s “dream home” damaged by fire after being struck by lightning.
The five-bed family home in the Woodilee development of Lenzie, near Glasgow, went up in flames after the strike on Saturday night – just seven months after the Malcolm family moved in.
Frank Malcolm said he had been watching TV with his wife Linda and two children when the lightning hit the Corn Mill Road property at about 5.45pm, causing wood in the eves to catch fire.
He told how he turned off all the power sockets in the detached home but knew they were in danger when he heard “crackling” upstairs.
He said: “I got everyone out before it started.
“It was pretty much instant ignition from the lightning and wasn’t long before it was all alight.
“The fire brigade arrived after it was fully alight.”
Neighbours rallied round the family to check they were safe and have been assisting them since the blaze.
A crowdfunding page was set up in a bid to help support them financially yesterday. The Just Giving page had already raised £2000 of its £5000 target yesterday.
Frank said: “It restores your faith in the community and they’ve all rallied round to help.”
The dad said his career as a building surveyor meant he has been able to assess the extent of the damage already.
Wife Linda yesterday said the £360,000 property had been the family’s “dream home”. A neighbour who lives next to the house told of his shock at seeing the property go up in flames.
He said: “We heard the crack then looked out and it was almost as if a fog had descended.
“It went up pretty quickly and all of the neighbours were running in checking everyone was out and OK.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will probe the incident.