Lightning activity is typically generated by explosive volcanic activity. In this work we report an experimental simulation of a volcanic lightning by focusing into a basaltic rock the emission of a pulsed Nd: YAG laser in air at atmospheric pressure (laser ablation). The temporal evolution of air breakdown in an ash plume was studied by emission spectroscopy and shadowgraphy. The electron temperature exceeds 18 ¿ 103 K and the electron density reaches about 1018 cm-3. The production yield of nitric oxide by simulated volcanic lightning was determined by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer and no substantial difference was found with that of simulated thunderstorm lightning by laser induced plasma.