FERRIDAY — When local residents saw a large cloud of billowing, black smoke rising Wednesday afternoon, it wasn’t just another structure fire — it was an oil tank near Lake St. John.

The fire apparently started when lightning struck one of the tank’s batteries, Concordia Fire District No. 2 Chief Nolen Cothern said.

The tank was located near Louisiana 569 on the back side of Lake St. John.

Though the tank began to melt from the fire’s heat, firefighters were able to contain the fire to that tank by hosing other tanks down to keep them cool.

The fire was eventually extinguished by using fire-retarding foam.