JACKSONVILLE, Fla (WSVN) – There was panic at the pump after an SUV caught fire while parked next to a gas station in Jacksonville on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred at the Gate gas station on Emerson Street near Philips Highway. According to witnesses and gas station employees, the car was already partially on fire when it pulled into the gas station.
“You would think they would have pulled over somewhere safer, away from a gas pump. I don’t know if it was out of panic, but even out of panic, I would panic more pulling into a gas station,” said a person who wished to remain anonymous.
Tiffany Parker, who recorded the scene from across the street, expressed her shock at the driver’s decision. “When I saw that, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, why would they do that?’” she said.
As the flames grew larger, the gas station and the Wendy’s next door were evacuated. Many bystanders described the moment as tense, unsure whether the fire would lead to a major explosion.
“People were screaming, they were making sure nobody was in the car,” said a nearby resident. “It seemed to escalate very quickly and then I thought it was going to explode,” added the witness.
Thankfully, one gas station employee acted quickly by turning off the gas pumps when they noticed the commotion. This likely prevented a dangerous explosion.
The cause of the car fire remains unclear, but fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/florida/video-captures-car-fire-near-jacksonville-gas-pump-prompting-panic-among-witnesses/