A lightning strike punctured a 6-mm² hole on a gas pipeline crossing an orchard and supplying gas to the town of Tain L’Hermitage, and then ignited the leaking gas. This 100-mm diameter pipe, 3.6 mm thick and 10 km long, which was transporting natural gas under 58 bar of pressure, runs underground at a depth of 1.2 m. The lightning arrester and electrical cabinet of the closest pipeline station sustained damage. Temporary repairs (i.e. installation of a coupling sleeve) were completed 8 hours later.