Last modified: Friday, July 3, 2009 2:08 PM EDT A minivan plows through the flooded intersection of School and Otis streets in Mansfield Thursday morning in the wake of a heavy thunderstorm. (Staff photo by Mark Stockwell) Another washout BY STEPHEN PETERSON and DAVID LINTON SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Yet another in a string of rainy days, Thursday may have been the worst yet, as a swift but strong thunder and lightning storm swept through the Attleboro area in the morning, sparking a house fire in Seekonk, several other reported lightning strikes and causing flash flooding and power outages. The storm hit about 8 a.m., but was pretty much out of the area by 8:30 a.m. Heavy rain continued off and on afterward, however. About 2 inches of rain fell during the day, the Attleboro Water Department said. In Seekonk, lightning is believed to have severed a limb from a tree on Sims Avenue, sending the limb onto a power line to a home at 12 Sims Ave. and ultimately causing a fire, Seekonk Fire Chief Alan Jack said. The fire chief said the house became "energized," melting breakers in the electrical panel and causing a surge through outlets in the lower level of the raised ranch house that had a computer and other electrical equipment attached. The fire destroyed the lower level of the house, but firefighters prevented it from spreading to the upper level, Jack said. However, there was heat and smoke damage to the upper level of the house. "It was definitely storm-related," Jack said. A couple and their daughter and pets were able to get out of the house, and no one was injured fighting the blaze, the fire chief said. The house was deemed uninhabitable because of the damage, and the family was going to be staying with a relative, Jack said. In Rehoboth, houses were reported hit by lightning on Providence Street and on Steber Way. In Norton, a home on East Hodges Street was reported hit by lightning, but the homeowner put out a dryer fire before firefighters arrived, a public safety dispatcher said. In Wrentham, the steeple of the Original Congregational Church across from the town common downtown was reported struck by lightning. Firefighters didn't find any signs of fire, however. In North Attleboro, an address on Rosemary Road was reported hit. In Mansfield, lightning struck two homes and a dance school just after 8 a.m. Several area roads were flooded and blocked, and firefighters also responded to several reports of home and building flooding. Thursday's storms followed similar but weaker storms Wednesday that saw several lightning strikes, but less rain. Today is forecast to be a mix of clouds and sun, with a high of 77 degrees and showers and thunderstorms around. Tonight is expected to be cloudy, with showers and a thunderstorm again possible, AccuWeather said. Saturday should be sunny and breezy, with a high of 79 degrees and a shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon. Saturday night should see clouds breaking, AccuWeather said.