Severe thunderstorms rolled through York County around 4:30 p.m. July 18. While Sanford and Springvale escaped major storm damage, Sanford Fire Captain Harold Smith said the fire department received calls from “all over the place.” He said the hardest hit areas were Chick Road, Philbrick Road and Bauneg Beg Road where power lines were down and trees fell across roads, cars and on homes. 

  He said there were unconfirmed reports of “straight line wind damage,” which he said was indicative of microbursts or localized damaging winds similar to tornado activity. 

  Smith said one building in town was struck by lightning, but did not result in a fire. He said the fire department responded to about 22 calls within two hours. He said Sanford Police Department assisted in responding to calls because the fire department was running out of resources and manpower.