Witnesses saw lightning strike this home Tuesday afternoon just before smoke and flames started pouring from it. By day's end, fire had gutted at least half of the home, which is located a short distance from Cowpens National Battlefield on Hwy. 11. (Ledger photo / TIM GULLA) Margaret Walker was just about to turn onto Highway 11 from a side road in the northwest corner of Cherokee County on Tuesday afternoon when a frightening spectacle of nature unfolded before her eyes.

A bolt of lightning came down, striking a home located in the center of cluster of trees. "It was like a bomb exploded," she said.

She and several others raced to the home, fearful that the 96-year-old resident was still inside. Luckily, the witnesses found no one home.

At least half of the stately brick home built in 1936, and remodeled in the early 1960s with a large addition, was gutted before the day ended, however.

"One half of it is probably totaled," said Cherokee Creek Fire Chief Reggie Petty. "The other half, the older part, is still intact."

Mark Blanton was passing by when the lightning struck and he raced to the home to find smoke pouring out of the attic. He immediately tried to determine if the homeowner, Ruth Hatchett, was inside.

Walker said Blanton and three other men, Nick Fort, Charles Gentry and Nathaniel Wilkins, were able to get inside the home to look for the homeowner.

The lightning storm that likely caused the fire still was active at the time. Walker and Blanton both said a second lightning bolt struck close by.

Firefighters were still at the scene as of almost 9 p.m. Tuesday just to make sure the fire didn't flare up, Chief Petty said. Lightning would likely be listed as the cause.

Cherokee Creek Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department, Grassy Pond Volunteer Fire Department, Chesnee Fire Department and Gaffney Fire Department.

Two other departments, Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department and Goucher White Plains were both on standby throughout most of the afternoon and early evening to assist if needed.