Lightning blamed for fire at Houston-area gas station

SOUTH HOUSTON, TX (KTRK) -- Authorities in the city of South Houston say a lightning strike caused a small fire at a gas station.

It happened at the Mi Tienda gas station off Spencer and Shaver.

The South Houston Police Department chief says lightning hit one of the vent pipes, sparking a small fire on the awning over the pumps.

The fire department responded and quickly put out the blaze.

H-E-B issued a statement saying no one was injured in the incident.

The company says a petroleum technician is on site assessing the damage, but the gas station is expected be reopened at 6am Wednesday.