REDDITCH firefighters were called to a Walkwood home on Sunday after lightning struck an external aerial.
The bolt set fire to wiring and scorched an area of carpet at the Newport Close property.
Leading firefighter Roger Underhill said: "It is extremely dangerous to watch television during a storm because if lightning hits the aerial, which is a conductor, it travels down the wires and usually blows up the television.
"If lightning is going to strike anything it will be the aerial, which sends hundreds or thousands of volts into the television.
"But the occupants were connected to cable and didn't use their aerial, it was coiled up in a ball, so the bolt just set fire to the wiring and carpet."
Leading Firefighter Underhill also said firefighters were called to false alarms at UK-NSI, North Moons Moat, Terry Springs, Smallwood, and Car Park 3 after the storm set off alarms.
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