Methods of Investigation

Lightning Strike Investigators meticulously follow the path the electrical current may have taken. Because lightning is an incredibly powerful electrical event, it leaves behind specific types of evidence. Investigators examine all potential paths the current might have followed, including:

• Electrical wiring and appliances: The intense current can cause electrical arcing, which is when electricity jumps across a gap in a circuit. This creates high heat that can melt metal, leave burn marks, and deform wires and components.

• Plumbing and metallic components: Metal pipes, gas lines, and structural steel beams can conduct lightning's current. Investigators look for signs of scorching, melting, or physical deformation on these materials to trace the path of the strike.

• Structural materials: The sheer force and heat of a lightning strike can cause physical damage to a building, such as cracked concrete, splintered wood, or holes in a roof. Investigators analyze these points of entry and exit to understand the strike's trajectory.

The Science of Arcing and Melting

Arcing is a key piece of evidence. It's a discharge of electricity through the air between two conductors, creating a "mini lightning bolt" inside a home. This can be caused by a lightning strike's massive surge of voltage, which forces the current to jump across gaps, even in insulated wiring. The resulting heat can reach temperatures of up to 50,000°F—five times hotter than the surface of the sun—which can easily melt metal and ignite flammable materials.

Investigators look for specific signs of arcing and melting, such as:

• Beading on wires: The intense heat from arcing can melt and reshape metal conductors, leaving behind small, rounded beads of resolidified metal.

• Localized burn marks: Arcing often creates highly concentrated burn marks or "pitting" on surfaces where the current discharged.

• Thermal damage without combustion: Lightning can cause extreme heat damage to materials, like plastic outlets or circuit breakers, even if no fire started.

By carefully analyzing this evidence, a lightning strike investigator can accurately determine the origin and cause of the damage, providing a clear, scientific basis for an insurance claim or legal dispute.