Lightning Blamed for Ohio Gas Station Fuel Tank Explosion

Investigators say lightning has sparked a fuel tank explosion that left a crater 40 feet wide at an Ohio gas station.

The blast and fire in the evening on Aug. 3 prompted a temporary evacuation near the Gas Depot in Fairfield, about 15 miles north of Cincinnati. People nearby described seeing a flash of lightning and then a fireball higher than the trees.

The explosion occurred in one of three underground tanks at the property. WLWT-TV reports two customers were at the station, but no injuries were reported.

Lingering vapors and the possibility that they could ignite caused concern. WCPO-TV reports that workers were expected to assess the environmental effects and start cleanup work.

Authorities indicated the remaining tanks might be dug up to determine whether they are compromised.