BALL OF FIRE IN DUNEDIN

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14571, 15 January 1948, Page 3

BALL OF FIRE IN DUNEDIN

PHENOMENON DURING STORM

SHARP ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCE

(P.A.) Dunedin, Jan. 14. At the height of a sharp electrical storm which occurred in Dunedin yesterday afternoon, a ball of fire fell in the yard of a house in London Street, narrowly missing the occupier, Mrs P. Casserley. The storm, which was preceded by numerous flashes of lightning and prolonged rolls of thunder, brought exceptionally heavy rain for more than two hours.

With the ball of fire came a deafening crash which rattled windows in neighbouring houses. Mrs Casserley had gone into the wash-house to get coal. She crossed to the back door a few feet away, and on turning to close the door she was startled by a vivid, red, ballshaped mass behind her. As it hit the concrete flames broke out, but quickly died away. No damage resulted. t The phenomenon is thought'to have been ball lightning, which is comparatively rare. While not affecting anything it does not directly touch, it may act explosively on any solid body, and instances have been recorded of walls being demolished and holes several feet deep being made in the ground.