Published in
01/08/2025 at 18:09
A man experienced a dramatic situation during a storm in the state of Michigan, United States, when his truck Ford F-150 was hit by a ray and soon after taken by flames. The case happened while he was waiting for the weather to improve, inside the vehicle. In a matter of minutes, the pickup was consumed by fire. The driver managed to escape unharmed, but the scare and damage were enormous.
According to the Ross-Augusta Fire Departmentthe lightning was the direct cause of the fire, initially hitting the truck's antenna.
The impact caused the radio to fail and, shortly thereafter, a cloud of smoke began to emerge from the hood.
When the driver opened the engine compartment, he saw that the fire was already spreading near the battery. With no alternative, he jumped away.
The sequence of events was quick. As soon as the lightning hit the vehicle, the electronic systems stopped working. Within moments, the fire began to spread.
The man, whose identity was not revealed, acted quickly when he realized the risk of an explosion. He moved away before the fire spread, which was crucial for him to escape unharmed.
A Ford F-150 was completely destroyed by flamesas reported by the firefighters who responded to the incident.
The head of the Fire Department, with almost 40 years of service, said he had never seen anything similar.
The investigation is still trying to determine whether the fire spread from a possible fuel leak or another flammable element present in the engine.
Although many consider cars to be safe during storms, there are risks that are little discussed.
A metal structure and the hard roof actually offer basic protection, as they conduct electricity to the ground.
However, a ray can still cause severe internal damagesuch as electrical breakdown, windshield breakage, antenna damage and even tire explosions.
These side effects are not always visible immediately and can pose a fire hazard, as occurred with Ford F-150 no Michigan.
Cases like this reinforce the importance of sheltering in safe places during storms, avoiding staying in vehicles parked outdoors.
The combination of modern electronic systems and flammable components can transform pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 on vulnerable targets when a ray directly hits the vehicle.
Fortunately, in Michigan's case, no one was injured. But the warning remains: even robust cars are not immune to the devastating power of lightning.
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