March 3, 2026

‘QUICK-THINKING’ GAS BAR ATTENDANT AVERTS DISASTER WHEN VEHICLE ERUPTS IN FLAMES AT PUMP AS IT WAS BEING TANKED UP, AFTER YOUNG PERSON WITH LIGHTER APPEARS TO IGNITE FUMES EARLY SUNDAY EVENING IN GRAVENHURST

GRAVENHURST — A very close call early Sunday evening — which thanfully went by the books — avoided a near disaster when a new gas bar attendant raced to the pumps with a fire extinguisher after a vehicle erupted in flames as it was being gassed up and as another person was fooling around with lighter.

OPP are investigating the scary incident, which took place at the PetroCanada at Southgate Plaza, on Muskoka Road South, in Gravenhurst at 6:40 p.m.

Police call it a “dangerous situation” that could have turned worse, were it not for the fast-thinking female worker who saw it unfold and quickly, calmly reacted as she was trained to do in such emergencies.

There were no injuries reported.

Emergency gas bar training paid off when a vehicle caught fire at pump No. 3 at the PetrCan gas bar at Southgate Plaza in Gravenhurst early Sunday evening thanks to a worker. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

But it wasn’t all that dramatic — almost normal going according to procedure — as she calmly reacted due to her work training and a recent fire retardant refresher course just days before.

She did all the things she was trained to do.

Police say three individuals — older teens or young adults, they say — arrived with two of them pushing a black vehicle toward pump No.3 at the south west end corner of the multiple set of pumps.

While one person was filling the vehicle with gas, another person in the group appeared to light the fuel’s fumes on fire.

Suddenly flames erupted causing a considerable fire to eventually engulf one side of the vehicle, on the ground and eventually around the nozzle where the black fuel hose was inserted into the gas tank.

Police say the “quick-thinking attendant” immediately shut off the emergency fuel injector to all the pumps, before running out and grabbing a fire extinguisher on the closest pump to help douse the flying flames.

Which by that time the three people from the vehicle had already begun waving their coats to try and put it out themselves.

They had already first paid for the fuel with the credit card at the pump and then drove off in the damaged vehicle, as normal, even after the attendant had asked that they remain. And after she turned her back to attend other customers who were parked at other pumps. There were about three other vehicles at other pumps, including one at the same pump on the other side opposite from where the fire happened.

And before police were able to begin their investigations Monday.

The pump area where the fire was was cleaned up after and no scorched residue remained.

Officers have video of the incident and while it may not have been intentional and perhaps kids fooling around, police say it was quite dangerous and had the potential to cause significant harm as well as property damage.

With CCTV cameras everywhere, video from the incident should allow police to track the vehicle’s licence plate number and owner and lead to those involved.

And could lead to charges.

The police investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP’s Bracebridge detachment at 1-888-310-1122; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com.