Glen Ellyn roof catches fire after lightning strike

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. (WLS) -- The roof of an unincorporated Glen Ellyn home caught fire after lightning struck it Thursday night, police said.

Neighbors spotted the fire, which happened around 9:30 p.m., and encouraged the residents to leave. No injuries were reported, but the blaze has left major damage at the residence near 22nd Street and Stratford Road.

"There's not really an upstairs anymore, so I'm shocked by how much damage a fire can do," said Maria Vana, a resident of the home.

"It's kind of sad, and kind of scary too for a house to be like this," said Grace Vana, a resident of the home.

Last night the Vanas heard thunder and a close lightning strike.

"It was very, very loud, obviously I thought it hit somewhere in the close vicinity, but I had no idea it hit our house," said Bryon Vana, a resident of the home.

"I've never experienced something this scary, when the neighbors are coming saying, 'Get out of your house!'" said Brianne Vana, a resident of the home. "I never thought that would happen."

This is the third lightning-related incident to occur this week, as lightning hit a house in Schaumburg early Thursday and on Wednesday night three firefighters were injured after lightning in hit a home.

State Farm reports Illinois is number five in lightning claims. Nationwide, lightning claims average near $6,000.

"You can't stop it, you can't alter the discharge, you can't make it hit some place else, lightning will pick its target," said Jeff Harger of the Lightning Protection Institute and owner of HLP Systems, Inc.

Harger said the systems won't eliminate the chance of a lighting strike, but they may minimize damage.

"There's no damage to the lightning rods, it takes the discharge and passes it to Earth with no damage to the structure or damage to the system," Harger said.

Back at the Vanas' clean up, they will have a busy few months repairing their home.

"Never thought that lightning would strike, ever," Maria Vana said. "I worry about a lot of things, but that wasn't one of them, and now it is."