McMinnville firefighter Terry Jones is used to responding to emergencies, just not at his own house.

Thursday’s storm changed that when gusting winds inflicted a direct blow to his property on Bethany Road.

“I was standing in the doorway when the roof of my cabinet shop flew right over my head like an airplane and crashed into my house,” said Jones. “The roof blew off in one piece but it smashed apart when it hit my house. It really caused a lot of damage.”

Portions of his cabinet shop roof came to rest across Bethany Road and blocked traffic. The rest of the roof was scattered around his front yard and in his trees.

The Highway Department had to push the roof out of the road, part of a busy night that saw road crews concentrate their efforts in the western part of the county. Road Superintendent Levie Glenn said there were several downed trees in the area of Crisp Springs Road, Pigeon Hill Road and Brown Prater Road.

“We had a busy night,” said Glenn.

The storm hit around 3:30 p.m. and lasted about an hour with winds and downpours. Jones said his cabinet shop roof knocked holes in his house roof which caused more problems.

“The rain soaked the inside of my house for about 45 minutes,” said Jones, who said the important thing is his wife Julie and the rest of his family emerged unharmed. “This shows you can have a lot of stuff and it can all be taken away in a matter of seconds.”

Among his missing items, Jones said he had four bicycles hanging from ceiling hooks in his cabinet shop. Two of the bikes were in his front yard on Friday.

“These two rode out the storm,” said Jones. “I have no idea where the other two are.”