At around 7 p.m. Monday evening, right as the members of the were gathering for their weekly training session, they were dispatched to a call at the Sunoco service station on the corner of Second Street Pike and County Line Road - a car had taken out a gas pump, and then hit the building; the pump was on fire.
The gas pump, which disconnected from the main tank when it was struck, burst into flames and was deposited about 20 feet away from its normal location. The fire, fueled by a small amount of gas left in the unit, was quickly extinguished by gas station staff and arriving firefighters, Southampton Fire Company Chief Glenn McKenney said.
The elderly female driver was not serious hurt but was taken to Abington Memorial Hospital by an ambulance from the Bryn Athyn Fire Company, according to police.
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In order to get to the woman out of the car, firefighters had to use rescue equipment to remove a portion of a fence that wedged her car between it and the service station wall, McKenney said.
The station owner, who also operated the tow-truck used to remove the car, was not at the station at the time of the accident but quickly returned when he heard what happened. He said he was relieved the pump’s shutoff valve functioned properly.
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Firefighters also used boons and other methods to control a small amount of gas that leaked from the station and trickled down County Line Road.
Police at the scene said they were not permitted to release more information on what caused the accident.
Fire crews from the Feasterville Fire Co. assisted Upper Southampton crews.
