FREDERIC, Wis. - "The corner of the basement, that's the electrical box, where they think the lightning hit," said Judy Anderson as she looks at the photos of what remains of her mother's home.

The home just outside of Frederic, Wisconsin was destroyed May 24, 2012.

"She walked away," said Judy. "She walked away and then she walked herself into the emergency room when I brought her in to get checked out."

Not one to miss a beat, when the house caught fire, Alice Anderson, 90, said she had a couple of options.

"Had a choice of jumping on the ground, or the black top or the rocks," said Alice. "Which would you pick?"

She said the lightning struck, the house filled with smoke and the only safe spot was the porch.

"Then I saw the side of the house fall off, it was burning so then I knew that I would have to jump off the deck or I'd be cremated on the back porch," Alice explained.

It was about a 15 foot jump to safety, fortunately there was somebody passing by to check on her and the home.

"Never a broken bone," smiled Alice.

Although bruised, she credits her Norwegian genetics for not breaking anything even with the jump.

If you're wondering why Alice just didn't take the stairs down, it's a legitimate question and there's a valid answer, because of the bears. The family took the stairs out years ago because bears kept coming up to the house.

"It was a close call, "said Judy. "She saved the most important thing, her."

"I'm going to be cremated," smiled Alice, "But I didn't want it yet."

Alice's son owns a construction business. He plans to build his mother a new home in the same spot where the old one once stood.

(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)