Scott Albertson happened to be home when lighting struck his Basking Ridge residence on June 8, 2016.
BASKING RIDGE -- Scott Albertson was home doing paper work Wednesday afternoon just before 2 p.m. when he heard an ear-piercing bang. He knew immediately that lightning had struck. He just didn't know his home was in the crossfire.
Albertson, who owns Albertson Masonry, just happened to be home because he couldn't do any work in the rain.
"It sounded like a bomb went off," said Albertson. "I was sitting home and lightning hit a tree and it set the curtains to our bedroom on fire. I think it came through the roof and hit the siding. My son's bedroom was on fire. It's a good thing it was raining and I was home."
Scott Albertson (Dave Hutchinson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Albertson rushed to get the fire extinguisher and worked to put out the initial fire. But the blaze soon raged out of control and he called 9-1-1.
"He did a great job," said Basking Ridge Fire Chief Nicholas Ierubino. "He probably saved at least another bedroom. It makes a difference to have a fire extinguisher in the home. Lightning strikes happen, but this is probably the worst one I've seen."
The fire gutted the front bedroom on the east end of the spacious ranch-style home on tree-lined South Finley Avenue, located less than a block from Ridge High School. Debris littered the front yard. The smell of smoke hung in the air nearly two hours later.
Two bedrooms and half the house were damaged, said Albertson. He said he had recently completed renovations and an addition to the home and was repairing to add a deck.
Albertson, his wife, Pat, and their three children will spend the night with relatives.
"My home is gone, but my kids and husband are OK," said Pat Albertson. "We're so thankful to the fire department."
Ierubino said the fire department received a call reporting a working structure fire at 1:52 p.m. Upon arrival, Deputy Chief Jack McGrath and firefighters observed heavy smoke in the front bedroom, he said. Ierubino, who arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, said the fire was under control and all the hot spots extinguished within an hour.
Storm knocks out power across N.J.
No firefighters were no injuries, said Ierubino.
The number of lightning strikes and the path each took are under investigation, said Ierubino. Lightning struck at least one tree, whose scattered remains stretched into the yard of the home next door. There was also a softball sized hole in the driveway of the home next door.
"That wasn't there when I left this morning," said homeowner Eileen Nock, who pointed to the wooded remains of a tree struck by the lightning that were strewed throughout her backyard. She said she temporary lost power in her home.
In addition to Basking Ridge, firefighters from Bernardsville, Bedminster, Far Hills, Liberty Corner, Stirling and the Veteran's Hospital responded to the scene. The Somerset County Fire Coordinator was also on the scene. Rescue squads from Basking Ridge, Bernardsville and Liberty Corner were present as well.
Jersey Central Power and Light arrived to shut off the power of the Albertson house and trouble shoot throughout the neighborhood.
"We're hanging in there," said Scott Albertson, as he and his family gathered enough belongings to last them overnight.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.