Lightning-Sparked Fire Consumed Old Bridge Home In Moments, Homeowner Says

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — This is the house that was struck by lightning Thursday afternoon in Old Bridge.

The two-story wooden condo on the 20 block of Homestead Drive was struck by lightning at about 2:45 p.m. Thursday, as storms moved through the area.

People were inside the condo at the time it was hit, but they were not injured in the lightning strike. They were able to evacuate, with their dogs, while the roof and walls of the condo burst into flames.

However, the family's three pet birds perished in the fire.

"We pretty much lost everything, except the clothes on our backs," said homeowner Angela Cuozzo. "I got our dogs out of the house, but we lost our three birds in the fire."

Old Bridge OEM said it was unable to save the birds.

Cuozzo said it was their home for the past 32 years.

A neighbor immediately to their right, Joe Velez, said he thinks it was a piece of metal jutting out from the home's roof that attracted the lightning. The metal was a regular part of the condo construction and had been there for years, he said.

He said the home's roof and attic immediately caught fire.

Charred lamps, insulation and other burned home furnishings could be seen outside the home on Friday, as low-hanging thunderstorms continued to roll through Central Jersey.

Justin Seaman lives on the other side of the home that was hit.

"I was not home at the time, but my wife was, with our baby and dog. She said she heard a very loud boom," he said. "It's scary. In our house, that's where we have the baby nursery. It's definitely scary."

Neighbors on the street told News 12 it was the loudest sound they've ever heard.

Cuozzo said the home was destroyed in "basically a matter of moments." She started this GoFundMe page to help her family rebuild.

People Were Inside Old Bridge Condo Struck By Lightning (Thursday)