Lightning strike ignites oil-tank battery in Pleasant Valley; multi-agency response contains blaze
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Summary
A lightning strike on an oil-tank battery near Pleasant Valley Road caused an early-morning fire that involved eight fire departments from four counties; no injuries were reported and damages were estimated at about $100,000.
A lightning strike ignited an oil-tank battery in the 24300 block of Pleasant Valley Road on Oct. 7, county staff reported at the Oct. 8 meeting. Firefighters from eight departments across four counties responded and extinguished the blaze without injuries.
Mark Whalen (Fire District 1) said the first units arrived about 8:15 a.m., that two oil tanks were fully involved and two brine tanks had burning insulation. An equipment shed and a large propane tank were exposed. Crews established a water shuttle using tenders from a nearby travel plaza and used about 350 gallons of foam; the fire was reported under control at 9:48 a.m. and full extinguishment was recorded at 10:01 a.m.
Whalen said the Kansas Corporation Commission and the lease owner are coordinating cleanup inside and outside the berm; the National Weather Service confirmed lightning strikes at the location near the time of the 911 call. Evergy and multiple county agencies supported the response. Whalen estimated the damage at about $100,000 and said the county will seek reimbursement from the responsible insurance carrier for foam used to replenish supplies.
No injuries were reported. Commissioners praised the multi-jurisdictional response and asked staff to seek reimbursement for consumables used in suppression.