'Something out of a movie.' Confirmed lightning strike sets fire to house in Cornwall

The homeowner tells News 12 the lightning strike on Racoon Lane sounded and felt like a bomb hitting his house.

News 12 Staff

Jul 14, 2023, 4:34 PM

Updated 450 days ago

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Storms packed a back-to-back punch this week in already hard-hit Orange County – this time with a lightning strike, downed trees and thousands of electric customers left in the dark. “It was something out of a movie," said Freddie Marotta. Lightning struck Marotta's house on Racoon Avenue in Cornwall and set it on fire Friday morning with him inside.
News 12 viewers shared images of the storm from all over Orange County, showing downed tree branches in Westtown, as well as hail and more flooding in already hard-hit Highland Falls. Rescuers gave News 12 video of a mangled car that washed out in Cornwall’s flooding Sunday with a reminder for people not to drive through floodwaters as these intense storms continue. “That vehicle went about a mile down the stream," said Cornwall Fire Chief Pat Hines. “The people were clinging to a tree. We secured them with ropes and were able to lift them up onto our ladders.” Friday's storm left thousands without power. A representative for Orange & Rockland says downed trees fell on transmission lines in Westtown and knocked out power in several parts of western Orange County.