A massive fire erupted at a fuel storage facility in Glenpool, Oklahoma, after lightning reportedly struck a tank on Monday, sending towering flames and thick smoke into the sky and prompting authorities to evacuate nearby residents.

Dramatic footage from the scene showed flames engulfing storage tanks at the Glenpool oil and gas facility, with smoke visible from communities across the Tulsa area. Local reports indicated that more than one tank may have caught fire as the blaze spread.

The incident unfolded during severe weather in the area, with witnesses reporting a powerful lightning strike shortly before the fire broke out. The exact cause remains subject to official investigation.

Residents near the facility were urged to leave the area as emergency crews responded to the rapidly developing fire. Glenpool Public Schools also issued a shelter-in-place notice as officials assessed the situation and monitored smoke and potential hazards.

The fire also raised concerns about traffic disruptions around US Highway 75, a major route through the area.

Firefighters from multiple agencies were working to contain the blaze and prevent flames from reaching additional tanks at the facility. The scale of the fire prompted heightened precautions because of the large quantities of flammable material stored at the site.

Glenpool, located in Tulsa County, has a long history with the oil industry. The city grew around the Glenn Pool oil field, discovered in 1905.

The latest incident is not the first major tank fire in Glenpool. In 2006, lightning struck a large gasoline storage tank at the Explorer Pipeline terminal, igniting a fire that burned for about 11 hours. Several nearby homes were voluntarily evacuated during that incident.

A separate 2003 explosion and fire at the Glenpool South tank farm also led to evacuations and the closure of nearby schools. That blaze burned for roughly 21 hours and damaged additional storage tanks, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Officials are expected to provide further updates on the current Glenpool fire, including the extent of the damage, the status of evacuations and whether anyone was injured.