Lightning strikes tower at Woods Mill Center

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:50 PM CDT

Erin Taylor photo/ Firefighters check for fire after a lightning bolt struck the top of a decorative tower in Woods Mill Center in Town and Country Tuesday afternoon.

A lighting bolt struck a decorative tower of the Woods Mill Center in Town and Country Tuesday afternoon, igniting a small fire and frightening dozens of workers and customers in the shopping and office mall.

Town and Country police and fire officials responded within minutes after the bolt struck shortly after 12:30 p.m. during Tuesday’s thunderstorm.

Diana Everett was working at her desk at Success Sports Promotion next to the window several dozen feet underneath where the lightning struck the tower’s peak.“It was a huge bang,” Everett said. “We came out, and it was raining so hard we weren’t sure if it was humidity or smoke.”

Valerie Williams, a stylist at the Gallery Salon next to Everett’s office, said the strike sounded like someone hitting metal with tremendous force. The salon shares a wall with the tower.

There were no injuries reported. The damage appeared minor.

Also, when the storm rolled through on Monday, lightning struck a cottonwood tree in the playground area at Paul A. Schroeder Park , 359 Old Meramec Station Road in Manchester

You can contact Erin Taylor at etaylor@yourjournal.com.