Oil Well Fire Extinguished

LONGVIEW — Lightning appears responsible for a large oil well fire in Gregg County. It took several hours to put out the blaze. In the meantime, fire caused the evacuation of nearly a dozen businesses and nearly two dozen homes. The fire started around 6:15 Monday morning near Enchanted Lane and H.G. Mosley Parkway. There were no injuries. Longview Fire Marshall Johnny Zackary tells KETK lightning hit a tank holding around 240 barrels of oil products, causing an explosion and fire.

Lightning is said to be responsible for two Longview house fires. About the same time as the tank fire, a home on Pineridge Street was struck by lightning. Then, around 8:00 Monday morning, there was an attic fire in a home in the 1000 block of Riverwood Drive. In both cases, firemen were able to extinguish the blazes quickly.