I secured a lightning-strike report courtesy of our local weather service;
the only lighting strikes for miles of this structure (there were plenty others elsewhere in the district that evening)
was about 45 minutes before the security guard first discovered the smoke/fire
(strike coordinates put it within 100 yards of the structure, but they claim no better accuracy than 500 yards at best anyway).

Am I alone in wondering whether a direct strike would have not resulted in a more-rapidly developing fire?
(but then, I've never experienced a lightning strike to that structure first hand...)
Unless it wasn't a direct strike...

No lightning conductor was fitted; in fact very little metal in the thatched roof at all,
other than some chicken wire used under the top concrete capping/flashing
and some electrical wiring run on rafters to inside lighting (pic attached).
Electrical services (to a sub-DB inside, now toast) were supplied by underground cable
from the main building's DB (this circuit breaker found down/Off - can't say by whom),
but security guard confirmed outside security lights were still on upon his first response.

Any wild theories as to the delay in fire development welcome, including Devil's advocate's