Lightning Strikes Mike’s Deli, Causing Damage

(Right): Fire apparatus lines Shear Street in Wrentham on Tuesday, June 2 at about 4 p.m. as area fire departments responded to the iconic Mike’s Deli to extinguish a two-alarm firecaused by a lightning strike. Norfolk Engine 2 (fore­ground) has hoselines going to the building, while Walpole’s ladder truck (front of the build­ing) is positioned to assist the Wrentham aerial ladder, raised to the roof. Photos Courtesy of the Norfolk Fire Department
(Above): Norfolk Fire Capt. Peter Petruchik, atop engine, directs members from Foxboro and Fire­fighter/ Paramedic Jamie Masterson, center, as they repack hose used to extinguish the two-alarm fireat Mike’s Deli.
(Below): Upon firefighters’ arrival at the fire at Mike’s Deli, fire is visible coming from the area where lightning struck the building on the second floor. Flames are also visible inside the window. Fire con­tinued to burn into the attic until stopped by Norfolk and Wrentham firefighters. Norfolk responded with Engine 2 and four members with Chief Coleman Bushnell. Deputy Chief Stephen Wood and five
(Above): Firefighter/Paramedic Mark Amiot inspects two televi­sion sets removed from a Grove Street home after a motor vehicle accident in front of the home caused an electrical problem, on Thurs­day, June 3 at around 6 p.m. Police and fire units responded to an initial report of a van off the road, and upon arriving found a van had struck and severed a utility pole. While firefighter/paramedics checked on the driver’s condition, police officers advised firefightersthe home had lost power. When firefighters met the homeowner, they were told an odor of electrical wires burning was present in an upstairs bedroom and lights in their refrigerator were exceptionally bright. Power was immediately turned off at the electrical panel and members found one television set burning in a bedroom with another starting to burn. NStar and the Electrical Inspector were requested to respond. The van’s operator declined medical attention.
(Above): Norfolk’s firefighters start a busy day on automatic mutual aid to Wrentham, the Wrentham Develop Center, Waste Water Treatment facility for an electrical fire on Tuesday, June 2 at 7 a.m. Nor­folk Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Wood, left, and Capt. Peter Petruchik, right, confer with Wrentham’s Fire Chief Jay McMorrow. Engine 2 responded with three members, while two other recalled members covered the Norfolk station. Firefighters would respond to eight emergency calls during the day, 2 for Advanced Life Support by the firefighter/paramedics, 4 firealarms and 2 mutual aid calls to Wrentham, including the two-alarm fireat Mike’s Deli.