Matthew Lethbridge was serving up French fries out of his truck at Whitby Ribfest as thousands descended on Iroquois Park despite the threat of rain.

A Johnny Cash cover band was scheduled to play at 2 p.m. and vendors like Slushy Bear and Billy Bob’s Bloomin’ Onions were doling out their fare.

Then Lethbridge saw a flash of lightning across the road — close. Another flash came from behind the fry truck. Then came the booming crack of thunder.

“It sounded like gunshots,” Lethbridge told the Star. He turned to see mayhem breaking out in the crowded dining tent, which had been struck by lightning. People were screaming. “They were running around everywhere.”

The lightning strike injured 17 people, sending electricity surging through their bodies. None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to Durham Regional Police.

There were about 20,000 lightning strikes across Southern Ontario Sunday afternoon as part of dozens of storms, Environment Canada said. It took just one bolt to cause chaos in Whitby.

Lethbridge said he saw two people use a table as a makeshift stretcher to carry a woman away from the dining tent and towards the medical centre that was set up for the event.

He also saw two police officers carrying two young boys to the centre.

At least three people appeared to be knocked unconscious, according to another witness.

Durham police Sgt. Al Valks said seven people were rushed to hospital while the other 10 made their own way there. All of them suffered burn wounds from the strike.

“Apparently the electricity went through their feet up through their bodies. It was painful,” he said.

The festival closed shortly after the lightning strike.

Steve Peddle and his wife Rose were inside the dining tent when the strike happened.

“You see the flash and it sounded like a bomb (went off) exactly at the same time. It was so loud,” he said. He said he saw three people lying on the ground and heard people screaming.

The pair was originally sitting at the table in the spot where the lightning struck, but decided to move moments before it happened.

“It would’ve been us sitting on the ground if she didn't switch,” he said.

Colin O’Regan, event chair, praised the response of police, fire and paramedics and noted that people in the dining tent helped make a path for the wounded.

“The patrons around the individuals started clearing tables and chairs,” said O’Regan. “Everybody was very concerned about the individuals.”

The tent remained standing after the lightning strike and appeared undamaged. O’Regan said the tents have lightning rods on top and they had prepared for stormy weather.

Durham region had been under a severe thunderstorm warning Sunday.

“The equipment comes in and it’s all above board,” he said. O’Regan, who heads the local Rotary Club, said the storm came suddenly, but that an emergency plan was executed.

Thousands were in attendance at the festival Sunday, but O’Regan said he’s relieved it didn’t happen later when more people were expected and that emergency responders were quick to arrive.

“I’m very proud of the organizers, volunteers and EMS crews that handled everything in a very calm matter.”

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The festival was scheduled to continue until 7 p.m. but was cut short by the incident.

Vendors like Slushy Bear and Billy Bob’s Bloomin’ Onions packed up their carts Sunday afternoon as light rain continued and volunteers worked to dismantle the dining tent.

With files from Karissa Donkin and Star Wire Services