A heavy thunder and lightning storm rolled through Burns Lake late in the evening on Aug. 5, 2013. It made a direct hit on the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) building in Burns Lake, as well on at least a few trees in town.
John Illes, MFLNRO operations manager for the Nadina District reported that 15 computers and laptops were destroyed in the strike, despite having been plugged into power surge protection devices.
Analog phone lines were also damaged in the direct hit.
The laptops were leased, and are expected to be returnable. The computer damages shouldn’t affect the budget.
Lynn and Norm Synotte returned to their Gerow Island home to find three of their large cottonwood trees appeared to have been struck by lighting.
At least that’s the only thing that Norm Synotte can attribute to the trunk length shallow scars that now run from top to bottom of the tall trees.