Storm

[owejia]

Rough night, about 7 pm lighting struck a large dying oak tree about 20' from my large hay barn. Luckily only had 10 roll of hay in it. Old oak tree was hollow and the fire was spectacular as the fire blazed out of a few holes about 20 ft up. Pouring rain had to get one of my tractors with 15' bat wing mower out along with a 30" cotton wagon with my square bale accumulator and grapple on it. Got the tractor and cotton wagon and fuel tank out along with the 10 rolls of hay. Watched that sucker burn, after calling power company that it could possibly hit the power lines. Not much way to put out a fire in a large hollow tree. Sucking air from holes in the bottom was like a run away chimney fire. Fell about 11 pm and only grazed the power lines causing the lights to blink. Went down to check damage about 5 am, tree fell and crushed two 10 ft gates and knocked down the top fence wire. Luckily the cows cannot get through the big tree limb to get in the road. Hollow stump about 15 ft tall still burning. No damage to the barn, a couple hundred dollars for new gates and a lot of fire wood. Too much drama for a old guy. This old tree was a good 4+ ft in dia. Life is interesting and some times too exciting.

[peejman]

Wow. Glad it ended up being relatively minor. Old, rotten trees can be dangerous in many ways.  

[Grand Torino]

What a mess but I guess it could have been a whole lot worse. Glad you are okay.

[Omega]

Glad it missed the more expensive barn and hope your insurance will cover the rest.

[owejia]

Every thing back in the barn, tree cut into firewood and hauled, brush cleaned up, gates and fence fixed, still have 15' burned out stump to deal with later, waiting for cooler weather to finish that project. Time for a rest.

[bersaguy]

Glad it did not get a direct hit on those power lines and take out your power...…….

[Hozzie]

Glad it wasn't worse.  Trees around barns, especially with Hay in them also worry me.   Can go from ok to losing everything in a matter of minutes.