WINONA - Lightning from storms moving through the area again Thursday evening are being blamed for striking an oil well tank on a farm on Winona Road.
Although the tank did not catch fire, the lightning dented the top and ruptured the side, causing oil to leak from the tank, according to Assistant Fire Chief George Brantingham of the Winona Fire Department, which responded with about 10 firefighters.
The oil company was also contacted about the situation and Brantingham said there was no danger. The small amount of oil leaking was being contained inside a nearby dike.
Article Photos
Lightning left a dent and a hole in this oil storage tank, causing a leak at a farm on Winona Road owned by Russell Kiko. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)
The farmer reportedly heard the lighting strike and called the fire department. The initial call was toned out as an oil well fire. The farm is owned by Russell Kiko.
Firefighters responded through the lightning storm, which brought heavy rains that left low areas of the farmer's field with large puddles. There was even hail in the near vicinity.
