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COURTESY HAWAII COUNTY FIRE
Hawaii County firefighters and police responded to a fire at a gas pump at Patel’s Spirit Gas Station in Captain Cook.
A spark possibly ignited gasoline and caused a two-vehicle fire this morning at a gas station in Honaunau, Hawaii County police said.
Flames from the two vehicles spread to an overhead roof and front of the structure, police said in a news release.
Hawaii County firefighters and police responded to an 8:50 a.m. call at Patel’s Spirit Gas Station.
After an investigation and speaking to witnesses, police concluded a spark may have occurred while a 58-year-old man was pumping gas into his friend’s vehicle.
The ensuing fire that eventually spread to another vehicle and the building and gas pump area.
A 28-year-old man escaped unharmed from inside the vehicle that was getting gas.
The 58-year-old man sustained 2nd-degree burns and was taken to Straub Hospital on Oahu for treatment.
A 66-year-old woman was inside her vehicle parked next to the other vehicle and also escaped uninjured.
The fire department said the flames spread from the two vehicles to the overhead roof and front of the structure.
A total of 13 fire personnel from six companies were involved.
The case is under investigation. A fire inspector said that it may be impossible to determine the cause, but static discharge, which is common, may have been the cause.
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