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"Petroleum storage tank fires due to lightning or static discharge are more common than most people think. Dozens of oil industry tank fires are reported each year worldwide, ranging from rim seal fires to multiple, simultaneous full tank fires. Many of these costly incidents are attributed to lightning or static discharge-related electrical arcing."

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This really is the age of paranoia.

Hank

"Dozens of oil industry tank fires are reported each year worldwide, ranging from rim seal fires..."

Most folks aren't aware that most petroleum storage tans have floating tops -- which float flush atop the contents to prevent vapor accumulation.

In a petrochem plant in Texas City, Texas, while sheltering from a thunderstorm with my construction crew, I saw lightning hit a storage tank about 200 feet away. Flame briefly licked around the lid seal, then settled down to a small flame from the vent pipe.

At that point, the situation was stable and not dangerous. However, several oldtimers who had lived through the 1947 Texas City ship explosion disaster took off and ran 3/8 mile through the storm to their cars and left for the day. Can't say that I blamed them...

You're correct: lightning frequently causes tank farm fires. Few of them are serious, and even if the tank ruptures, the fire berms surrounding the tanks usually confine the blaze to a limited area.