Ever had this happen to you?

[paul blair]

Up early this morning, went food shopping, started to rain, needed fuel for work van, the end pump was broken so I backed to the middle pump, put in my card and number and while waiting for the pump to turn on I heard a loud pop and the fire suppressant system activated and covered me from head to toe with heavy white powder couldn't see or breath, thought I was done. Ambulance to Emergency room, ok now. No fire-probable rusty nozzles. That stuff covered three lanes and 9 pumps and part of the building. Lucky I didn't get hit by a car when I was running away. Gonna stay up wind from now on. No pics, but I must have looked like a ghost...

[mongocanfly]

Dang...I bet that was a mess...

[Stocker]

Sorry Paul, I couldn't resist! Must have been a scary experience,.... glad you are okay though.

[paul blair]

Mike I couldn't take any pics because they put me in the ambulance and when I went back all the mess was cleaned up. My camera was in the van--bummer--Looked like a heavy snow storm after.

[special-K]

It's nice to see that equipment is so diligently maintained and inspected

Ever happen to me? This is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing happening.

[Ol Blue K20]

I can't say it happened to me. I think you're one of the only people it's happened to. I'm sure glad you're ok and there was no fire...

[truckster]

I'll bet there's surveillance video somewhere...

That sounds pretty scary. Glad you're OK.

[68bowtie]

Woah

[paul blair]

Going to fire department today to see if some one there has any pics--it was a scary and funny looking scene!

[Boog]

Similar deal happened to a woman here a few years ago. She was fueling her car when she opened the door and reached in for something and turned around to a big ball of fire surrounding her and the pump. Apparently static electricity had ignited the gas fumes. It singed her hair and dress and minor damage to her car. The extinguisher system did it's job and she wasn't hurt. You can see that happening with smokers easy enough but this was a static charge that set it off on her. Crazy thing. I've seen folks drive off with the gas nozel still in their car and pull the whole pump off the island and the sparks didn't set the spilled gas on fire.

[Hubscrub]

Wow, looked it up on you tube. Didn't know that was even a thing.

[jeffg1010]

These systems arent as common in the south but I worked in Boston for 9 years and I know exactly what your talking about.

What I would give to see this video.

[Steeveedee]

I used to work at a test facility that had lots of foam (absorbed radio frequency energy) that gave off toxic (cyanide) fumes when it caught on fire. There was a fire suppression system that sprayed out a foam that effectively killed the fire. The real problem turned out to be that the foam went everywhere, and people had heart attacks because they were so scared that they couldn't see through the foam to escape, even though the fire was out. We had training on how to get out. It also reminds me of how, when I was in the US Navy, we had devices that gave us oxygen for enough time (8 minutes!) to get out of a confined space when there was a fire. Put a plastic bag over your head, just like your mama told you not to do! We had something similar when I worked at Cape Canaveral, used for toxic fuel spills. That stuff would eat your lungs for breakfast.

[mongocanfly]

I had 5gal gas blow up in my face yrs ago due to static.....while at uab burn unit they told me static caused more gas fires than anything ....

[Boog]

Lots of things can generate static charges. Most if not all of our fuel stops have cautions for filling a gas container. It must be on the ground while filling instead of in the bed of a pickup. Even the plastic cans. They must be grounded to reduce the chance of static charge and the fill nozel must be touching the can as well.

[Troy Sr]

My step brother was on his first day at a Car Wash/Gas Station when a customer came in said filler up and I'll take a wash!! My bro asked if he wanted his oil checked the guy said no handed him his ARCO card and drove off with the pump still pumping. He ripped of the hose and the pump caught fire!!! My brother hit the kill switch and grabbed a fire extinguisher put it out. He got fired but later the boss found out it wasn't his fault so he hired him back!! I think I'd take off running if it happened to me!!!

[paul blair]

I went to the Shell Gas Station and asked a clerk if any pics were taken, no video but the women said another employee might have some pics. I left my info and hope she sends them to me so I can share here...

[truckster]

Did you find out what caused it to go off? In looking up similar incidents, I've discovered that the big red button that's near the pumps can set those off. Maybe some knucklehead that was there when you were pumping gas pushed the button.

[paul blair]

I was the only one there at the time it went off...thinking one of the discharge nozzles was rusted and just let go...I was covered head to toe with the white stuff...some one said I looked like a ghost...hope the clerk sends pics to me so I can post here.

[Boog]

I wouldn ‘t hold my breath waiting for them to give you pictures. They would have to think you would use them to file suit on them.

[paul blair]

You are probably rite...see if I get any.

[The Rocknrod]

I dont understand the fire suppression system thing. What were you driving?

[truckster]

Here's a video of a suppression system in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43GnpZpVT2g

[Stocker]

No wonder you got the heck out of there as fast as you could!

[special-K]

If there was a liability case started against the station I think there is plenty enough evidence w/o the pictures, such as the ambulance ride.