Video shows palm tree fire after lightning strike
A Phoenix man captured the aftermath of an apparent lightning strike during a storm Tuesday night. Kevin Kaminski says he and his wife heard a loud explosion and saw fire engulfing a palm tree near their home. (Aug. 19)
GLOBE, Ariz. (AP) — Partial closures of two state highways were in effect Wednesday in east-central Arizona because of a lightning-caused brush fire.
The partial closures of State Routes 188 and 288 in both directions were in a sparsely populated area southeast of Roosevelt Lake and north of Globe.
Tonto National Forest officials said the fire has burned about 3 square miles (8 square kilometers) of grass and brush on the north side of SR188 about two miles ( 3 kilometers) east of the junction with SR288.
Officials said three structures were threatened, but no communities had been evacuated.
Video captured Tuesday night in downtown Phoenix shows a palm tree in flames after reportedly being struck by lightning.
Resident Kevin Kaminski, a local photographer, captured video of the burning tree outside his home near 15th Avenue and McDowell Road.
Kaminski and his pregnant wife heard an explosion around 10 p.m. that shook their home. They believe the sound came from the lightning striking the tree.
Kaminski posted the video on Instagram, saying it was like a match was lit because of how fast it went up in a blaze.
The Phoenix Fire Department responded and put out the flames. Video shows multiple people gathering around the tree to take photos and videos of the fire.
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