TOMAHAWK, Wis. – The dramatic moment a lightning bolt hit a tree in a Wisconsin backyard, sending bits flying and starting a fire, was caught on camera Tuesday.

The tree sat on the edge of an otherwise peaceful lake in Tomahawk , until a lightning bolt hit the tree out of nowhere with a big crack.

An explosion of orange flames and pieces of the tree's bark, limbs and leaves went flying after the lightning made contact.

TRIPLE LIGHTNING STRIKE SENDS JOLT THROUGH CHICAGO SKYLINE

The sound of the lightning echoed off the lake as the tree settled back down, and smoke arose from around the tree.

A few minutes after the lightning struck, flames crept up the trunk of the tree.

Mike Smith, whose property the tree is on, said he was not there at the time and received a text from a neighbor sa

See Full Page