Tree got struck by lightning near Brisbane a few days ago, silk oak, exploded and damaged houses for two blocks!
Steve...you a lightning rod or what!
I got a call to a lightning struck palm, cuban royal palm, bolt had hit the crownshaft at about 35'...big hole, several drooping fronds, then down at the bottom you could see a few charred roots, then a hibiscus about 5' away was dead and a chunk of tarmac blown out of the road on the other side of a stone wall. We took off the damaged fronds and the palm never missed a beat...at least not yet, got to be 4 yrs ago.
Fickle stuff lightning.