USA – Lightning Strike Sparks Fire at Three LNG Storage Tanks in Oklahoma

A suspected lightning strike triggered a major fire at an Explorer Pipeline storage facility in Glenpool, Oklahoma, on Monday morning, August 17. The blaze spread across three tanks containing petroleum products, prompting a large-scale emergency response involving nearly 50 firefighters and specialist crews.

Despite the scale of the incident, authorities reported no injuries or fatalities. Air monitoring around the facility also found no hazardous substances at ground level, and officials determined that the smoke did not present an immediate threat to public health.

Fire spreads across three tanks

Emergency services were alerted at approximately 8:34 a.m. after reports of an explosion at the facility near Highway 75 and West 126 Street. Investigators and emergency officials said the incident was believed to have started when lightning struck one of the storage tanks.

The resulting fire initially involved a single tank before spreading to two neighboring tanks, leaving three tanks affected.

Mandy Wafrinak, public information officer for Glenpool’s Department of Emergency Management, said the nature of the materials stored at the facility meant firefighters could not simply use water to tackle the flames. Specialized suppression foam, chemical agents and industrial firefighting equipment were required to bring the situation under control.

The firefighting operation brought together personnel from several agencies, with almost 50 firefighters and rescue workers involved.

Among the specialist teams assisting were the Cushing Fire Department, Sinclair Refining Fire Team, Coffeyville Resources Fire Team, Williams Fire and Hazard Control and U.S. Fire Pump, along with local emergency crews.

Cooling tractor-trailers supplied by the facility’s owner were also brought in to help reduce temperatures around the storage tanks.

Although firefighters successfully extinguished the visible flames, crews continued applying foam to the remaining tanks overnight. The precautionary measure was intended to keep the tanks cool and minimize the risk of the fire reigniting.

Roads closed as officials monitor air quality

As the emergency response continued, authorities closed West 126 Street between Casper and Elwood Streets and advised members of the public to stay away from the area.

Officials also issued a shelter-in-place advisory affecting Glenpool residents and local schools while air quality was assessed.

Monitoring carried out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tulsa County Emergency Management detected no hazardous chemicals at ground level. Based on those results, officials concluded that the smoke did not pose a public-health threat and lifted the shelter-in-place advisory at around 2 p.m.

Explorer Pipeline confirms lightning strike

Explorer Pipeline confirmed that lightning struck the company’s LNG tanks and said it was working with local emergency responders to secure the facility and maintain safety in the surrounding area.

The incident is not the first tank fire reported at the Glenpool oil storage facility. Local reports indicate that three previous fires have occurred at the site, with at least two reportedly linked to lightning strikes.

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