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Fire crews responded to a large blaze at an oilfield battery site east of Provost on Friday night, after a suspected lightning strike ignited the facility during a thunderstorm.
The fire broke out near Highway 13, close to a grain terminal and seed cleaning plant. Videos shared on social media showed towering flames and thick black smoke rising into the sky, visible for kilometres. Some onlookers at a local racetrack reported seeing the site "light up" in the distance.
Alberta authorities have not confirmed the exact cause of the fire, but several residents in the area reported heavy lightning activity at the time. One post circulating online suggested a bolt struck the facility just before the fire erupted.
No injuries have been reported, and initial comments suggest the site may have been unoccupied at the time of the incident. Firefighters from multiple nearby communities, including Provost and Macklin, were called in to assist with the response.
Residents in the area noted the intense odour and thick smoke, with some expressing concern over air quality and the potential presence of hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulphide.
The fire has since been brought under control, though officials have not yet released a statement about the extent of the damage or the name of the company that operates the site.
An investigation into the cause is ongoing.