At about 7:00 AM, Thursday, January 22, 2004, units from the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department were dispatched to the Shell Gas Station at 7430 Riggs Road for a report of a fuel pump on fire.
Units from Chillum-Adelphi Fire/EMS Station 34 were the first to arrive and encountered a gas pump that had been knocked over and was on fire.
A midsize pickup truck ran into the fuel pump ripping it off the foundation, allowing a release of about 15 gallons of fuel and an apparent electrical spark from grounded power cables ignited the blaze.
The pickup truck left the scene and is wanted for questioning in this case by the Prince George's County Police Department.
Foam from Engine 342 was applied to quickly suppress the fire.
Damage was limited to the pump itself and a small portion of the overhang. Serious injury and additional damage was averted due to safeguards built into the fuel pump that worked properly as well as the station attendant that immediately shut off the pumps. No injuries occurred and damage estimates are set at $8,000.
