Possible lightning strike damages Pinellas home

For the third time in less than a week, severe weather is being blamed for damage to a home in the Tampa Bay area. 

Just after 3:00 p.m., crews responded to a home in Tarpon Springs for a house fire cause by a possible lightning strike. 

Tom Wheeler lives in the neighborhood, he was on his porch watching the storm build when he heard a crack. 

"You could feel the concussion on your chest, it was so close."

While emergency officials are calling this a possible lightning strike, Wheeler says he has no doubt what happened.

"Before we knew it, a big bolt of lightning went through the trees."

Other neighbors in the area didn't have to see the strike to know what happened. 

"My daughter was on the stairs going up, I was coming down and it was very loud," recalled Phyllis Atkinson. "The stairs shook, we both screamed!"

No one was injured in the fire, the owners of the home were not there at the time of the incident. 

Neighbors are calling this a wake up call, knowing it could have easily been their homes. 

"Close enough, ut that's what we have insurance for," Wheeler said. "You just have to respect it and know your weather and watch it."

The fire remains under investigation.