Lightning damages house

NU couple at home when bolt hits eaves

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Mike Suess and Jean Herbeck got the surprise of their lives during a thunderstorm after they went to sleep on Aug. 18.

A bolt of lightning apparently was attracted to the metal eaves of their 1109 N. Valley home, struck it at about 10:30 p.m. and caused a fire that destroyed much of the upstairs of the century-old structure.

Herbeck was asleep in an upstairs bedroom when she heard a loud bang when the lightning bolt struck the house. She wasn't sure just what happened at first.

"I heard a loud bang and the fire alarm in the house was sounding and flashing," Herbeck said. "I went downstairs and woke up Mike. He fell asleep watching television."

The telephone in the house wasn't working so Mike went to his brother Gary's house next door to call the fire department.

"I noticed a police officer in the alley driving slowly, looking for lightning damage I suppose," Suess said. "I stopped him and told him I needed to call the fire department."

Firefighters soon arrived. They used a chop saw to cut into the roof of the home to get at the fire located between the rafters and ceiling. One fire fighter was overcome briefly and his vital signs were monitored for a while during the fire, Suess said.

Most fire damage was limited to the top floor of the home. Suess was thankful.

"I've got to commend the fire department for getting here so fast and containing the fire," Suess said. "They're good people. They risked their lives to save much of the house, including my important papers and many of my clothes."

The property, which includes 3 1/2 lots and many mature trees on a hill, has been in the Suess family for many years. The home was vacant for a while until he remodeled and moved into it in 1987. Suess recently reshingled the roof and installed new windows in the home.

The property has lots of sentimental value to him. He plans to demolish the home and rebuild on the site.

"My grandfather moved into the house at age three," Suess said. "I spent lots of time here as a child."

Meanwhile, the couple is living a day at a time after the fire.

"It's a shock for us at first," Suess said. "Then you realize you just have to make the best of it and move on. Things are getting better each day. You can't replace the sentiment. We still have the property."