Strong winds stemming from a thunderstorm last week left portions of one Williamsburg area business scattered across a field.

Creager Storage, an indoor storage service for large items like boats and campers, lost a large portion of one of the main buildings last week when straight-line winds literally lifted it up and set it down in a nearby field.

“They said it was straight-line winds,” said owner Ron Ayers. “It happened at about 10 p.m. I just recently purchased the place from Norma Creager, and she called and told me the power went out and that she could see sparks. I went out to look and, when I followed the wires out, I shined the light and could see the campers and boats, and that’s supposed to be enclosed.”

A straight-line wind can be similar to a tornado in strength, but is characterized by air traveling straight in one direction, instead of swirling around. Caused by sudden down-bursts of cool air that, when it strikes the ground, sails outward, potentially flattening anything in its path. In this case, the large storage barn was in the right place at the right time.