system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: why aren’t gas stations required to close during lightning/thunderstorms?

I would assume there’s some protections in place?
gpt
Because whilst a lightning strike might be a good ignition spark for explosive gases, every other smaller event even closer to the pump is a much bigger concern for the fire risk, such as:

- static discharge when touching your car after getting out

- switching on an uncapsuled light-source (door lights, headlights, etc.)

- starting of an engine (the relay that powers the starter)

The direct lightning strike is very unlikely to happen and the gaseous mixture at an outdoor gaspump rarely reaches combustable ratios of air/gas.