Shortly after noon, lightning hit the Flat Iron/Key Bank Building.

The strike exploded a chimney, sending debris falling eight stories to Pennsylvania Avenue.

There were no injuries reported as a result of the strike, but falling brick damaged at least one vehicle parked next to the building.

A particularly large piece of debris — about the size of a basketball — came to rest on the ground a few feet from the obviously damaged vehicle.

City crews assess the scene of a mid-day Wednesday lightning strike at the Key Bank Building in downtown Warren.

Large pieces of brick could be seen on the sidewalk across Pennsylvania Avenue from the strike.

Bricks in various shapes and sizes were strewn about the roadway. City of Warren police, fire, and public works departments responded to the scene.

Pennsylvania Avenue was shut down between Market and Hickory streets.

Public Works Director Mike Holtz said the street would not reopen until crews had a chance to evaluate the stability of material that remained at the top of the building.

His initial guess was that it could be the remainder of Wednesday before the street reopened.

City of Warren police and fire discuss the damage after lightning struck the Key Bank Building shortly after noon Wednesday. Photos by Brian Ferry

A photograph of the chimney that was apparently struck showed large cracks throughout.

Sandy Gustafson was at work on the third floor of the building at the time of the strike.

“It was a very bright flash and an extremely loud sound,” she said. “I said, ‘I think it hit the building.'”

The falling bricks sounded like breaking glass as it hit the street, she said.

Power was out for a significant area of the downtown. Traffic signals at Fifth and Conewango avenues, Fifth Avenue and Market Street, and Pennsylvania Avenue and Hickory Street were not functioning for about a half-hour.