By SANDY McGEE

CUMBERLAND — Not one, but two residential properties in town were struck by lightning in Thursday’s wild weather. No injuries were reported.

The first lightning bolt touched down at 131 Abbot Run Valley Road around 8 a.m., “just as the skies opened up,” said Cumberland Hill Fire Chief Kenneth Finlay.
“The lightning hit the chimney, which just exploded,” he said. “There was some building damage, but no fire.
About 15 minutes later, a second lightning strike was reported at 16 Southbury Road. A jolt of electricity had landed in the driveway.
“It energized the entire house,” Finlay said. “A portion of the driveway exploded up when the lightening made contact. Patches of the grass lawn were burnt.
“It tripped numerous circuits in the building. We terminated power to the building and had the owner contact an electrician.”
Only one adult was home at the time.
“We also had a shorted circuit on Thompson Hill Road,” said the fire chief. “We're not sure if it was due to the flood of rain or lightning.”
Street flooding also occurred early Thursday morning throughout town. The National Weather Service had issued a flash flood warning for eastern Providence County.
“We had some water problems,” Finlay said. “On Nate Whipple Highway, you couldn't see the highway. The rain was over the curbs on both sides.
“There was heavy water running down Hillside Road, almost to waterfall proportions. Traveling was also difficult on the state highways.”
Scattered thunderstorms and showers are expected to continue on Friday afternoon, Friday night and on the Fourth of July holiday.