Violent storms and lightning zapped a Lee's Summit fire chief and started a shed fire today in rural Jackson County.
Battalion Chief Jim Eden was part of a weather-spotting team, which watches for severe weather approaching Lee's Summit, when he was hit by lightning. The strike occurred about 3:30 a.m. at Missouri 291 and Interstate 70 in Independence.
Officials said Eden was parked along the side of the roadway when he saw a flash of light, and then debris struck his vehicle.
Pieces of pavement landed on the hood and roof of the vehicle, and the radio antennae melted to a quarter of an inch. The antenna is normally 12 inches.
Eden was uninjured.
Another lightning strike incinerated a shed about 4:30 a.m. in Levasy.
Fire officials said the strike occurred in the 400 block of E. Old Lexington Road. The estimated loss was $52,000.
No injuries were reported.
