{"id":821905,"date":"2026-07-24T00:07:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T00:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/821905\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T00:07:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T00:07:28","slug":"lightning-strikes-north-edmonton-sidewalk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/821905\/","title":{"rendered":"Lightning strikes north Edmonton sidewalk"},"content":{"rendered":"

A north Edmonton sidewalk has been thunderstruck.<\/p>\n

It happened Saturday night, with residents along 129 Avenue and 129 Street saying fire crews were called after lightning struck the area.<\/p>\n

One neighbour says she felt the roar of thunder and crack of lightning caused a power line to collapse.<\/p>\n

But when the rain cleared, they saw a giant hole in the sidewalk.<\/p>\n

\"\"Aftermath of where lightning hit a sidewalk in north Edmonton. (Matt Battochio, CityNews)<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, we were terrified; the sounds and it was scary,\u201d said Joddi Davis. \u201cI\u2019m from southern Alberta; I moved here in December, and the storms are nothing like I\u2019ve ever seen down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The city has already repaired a damaged fire hydrant.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sidewalk remains open and has been marked with safety awareness with high-visibility paint. Maintenance teams have submitted a permit request to perform underground work,\u201d said the City in a statement.<\/p>\n

The City adds it could take two more weeks to replace the sidewalk, which has developed a bit of a cult following.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sonic 102\u2019s Lauren Hunter with a sign marking where lightning hit a sidewalk in north Edmonton. (Matt Battochio, CityNews)<\/p>\n

Radio host Lauren Hunter from CityNews\u2019 sister station Sonic 102.9 is installing these signs to mark the occasion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Signs made by Sonic 102\u2019s Lauren Hunter marking where lightning hit a sidewalk in north Edmonton. (Matt Battochio, CityNews)<\/p>\n

The city says the sidewalk won\u2019t be destroyed, instead sent to researchers at the University of Alberta.<\/p>\n

Lightning has kept fire crews busy. So far this month, firefighters have been called to 11 lightning-caused fires.<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

Add CityNews Edmonton as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n

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