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Possible lightning strike ignites, destroys boat.
#OceanaCountyNews #StonyLake
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
BENONA TOWNSHIP — An 18-foot Lund fishing boat that was on a boat lift was destroyed by fire caused by a possible lightning strike, Tuesday morning, June 13, on the north side of Stony Lake.
A strong thunderstorm rolled through the area Tuesday morning, and witnesses said they think the boat fire was caused by lightning from the storm. The exact cause of the fire had not yet been determined, and a fire investigator from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene.
The Shelby-Benona Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 11:05 a.m. at 8185 West Stony Croft Road, said Shelby-Benona Fire Chief Jack White. Although the boat was totally destroyed, its motor may be salvageable, White said.
The boat’s owner was not home at the time of the blaze, White said, 
and a neighbor called 911.
Next door neighbor Rollie Bolattino said he heard “a loud bang” just prior to the fire. Another neighbor said there was “lightning all over the place.”
Bolattino said Jeff Schierbeek owned the boat.
No other information was immediately available.
This story is copyrighted © 2017, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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