I generally remember to turn mine off at the wall when I've finished, but it doesn't usually explode when I switch it back on. And I always unplug the washing machine when there's a thunderstorm because of previous experience with a machine's innards being zapped by a surge.

I'm not sure if my memory of seeing fork lightning is real or if it was implanted by TV. Last night we were seeing the sky light up but most of the flashes were over the horizon.