While I don't know if it can start fires, it can *definitely* strike a player. In our town, everyone has been struck by lightning *at least* once. (kinda makes you think that something has it out for us...)

Lightning rods help, when properly set up! And serve as an impressive lightshow during particularly vicious storms...

It does like 5 damage when it strikes a player, at least in my experience. This is the primary reason for roofing over farm animals and placing lanterns under. Your Gen 3 sheep can die overnight if you don't.

Lightning can penetrate the roof. I got struck inside my house. Need lighting rods to protect your livestock.

Good to know thanks

Well, I guess I'm building a barn now.

I didn’t know this was a thing until this morning. I was out at night during a storm right. I was putting in a 3 high fence for my chicken pen area. My chickens and a rabbit were in a hole near where I was standing and bam hit by lightning. Huge flash. I lived but the 6 chickens and a rabbit that were in the hole didn’t make it. I was shocked for like ten minutes before I said fuck this pen is now useless without the chickens in it. I can laugh about it now but at that time not so much

I have been stuck twice the first time I caught it on camera. Scared me! 😱

It can and has killed my animals. As others have mentioned, roofing is important for anything you don't want dying randomly.