PALM BAY, Fla. --
A lightning strike during a severe storm set a Brevard County house on fire.
Palm Bay firefighters said that because of a high-tech tool, they knew about the fire before they were even able to see it, WESH 2 News reported.
In the midst of the severe storm and lightning, the Palm Bay firefighter's heat-sensing camera proved to be a life-saver.
"I thought if the house didn't burn down I was going to get struck without a doubt," homeowner Steve Lindner said.
Lightning struck Lindner's home as a severe storm passed through Brevard County. The flooding from the storm displaced a manhole cover, and wires came down and started fires on the ground.
Lindner's home was in flames because of the lightning. He said he saw flames when he opened the attic door.
Lindner got a hose and tried to put out the fire.
Firefighter Paul Davidson used the heat-sensor camera like X-ray vision and looked through the ceiling into the attic.
"I went along the ceiling until we saw a change in heat," Davidson said.
The change in heat meant more fire, which firefighters quickly put out.
"It could have been a whole lot worse," Lindner said.
Minutes more, and firefighters said the fire could have consumed the whole roof.
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