Dustin and Jeanette Procita lost their home to a fire on Friday. The California couple also mourns the loss of one of their two beloved dogs and believe a meteorite hit them in Nevada County, California. Other eyewitnesses also reported a fireball falling over the weekend. But the space agency NASA has doubts about this version.
Dustin Procita told local broadcaster KCRA he was in the house when he suddenly heard a “loud bang”. When he went out onto the terrace, it was ablaze. The fire quickly spread to the house of the Procitas, which burned down. The couple were unharmed, their dog “Tug” died in the flames.
When police and firefighters began their investigation into the cause of the fire, they were soon confronted with several consistent reports from eyewitnesses who saw a fireball fall to the ground (see tweet below). Therefore, Dustin Procita and his wife are convinced that it was a meteorite.
Firefighter reports “atypical situation”
Firefighters fought the flames for hours. A spokesperson told KCRA it was “a fairly unusual situation.” Meanwhile, Nevada County blue light organizations are also assuming a meteorite impact.
But NASA, which has now also started the research, doubts this statement. While the so-called Taurid meteor shower — a swarm of shooting stars that can also be seen with the naked eye — has been confirmed to be raging, astronomers estimate that a chunk of rock could have detached itself from the flow and into Earth is unlikely. A spokesperson also told ABC10 TV channel that while meteorites can glow as they enter Earth’s atmosphere, they are cool when they land.
Fundraising for couple
Despite this, a fundraiser on the Internet platform GoFundMe entitled “Dustin and Jeanette’s House Destroyed by a Meteorite” has already raised more than $11,000. The campaign is justified by the fact that the couple does not have proper home insurance and is therefore dependent on donations.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
