According to Fire Chief Mingo Hinojosa of the Linn-San Manuel Fire Department, lightning struck at a fuel storage tank facility near McCook around 1:00 a.m. Thursday.
Six battery tanks caught fire.
Hinojosa said Edinburg, McAllen, Alton, Mission, Palmhurst and Linn-Sanuel Fire Departments responded and had the fire under control by 4:00 a.m.
Hinojosa said half of the 60 acre facility was left covered in oil.
He said no injuries were reported, but much firefighting equipment was damaged by oil.
He said within his fire department, oil damaged six firefighting uniforms which are estimated to cost $3,500 each.
Reports of storm damages popped up around the Rio Grande Valley.
A powerful storm system rolled through the area Wednesday night.
Thunderstorms producing frequent lightning and heavy rainfall moved through Raymondville and Port Mansfield with rainfall accumulations from three to five inches.
Some low level areas could still be flooded.
If you do see standing water on a roadway, remember to turn around, don’t drown.
In nearby Jim Hogg County, damaging winds knocked down four utility poles and caused a brief power outage across the entire city of Hebbronville, according to the National Weather Service.
There is still a slight chance of showers for the Valley on Thursday.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT