Worker Badly Burned During Fire At Mansfield Gas Station
MANSFIELD (CBS) – A gas station employee was badly burned Wednesday afternoon during a large fire. Witnesses described a hectic scene as employees rushed in to save the man.
It happened around 1 p.m. on Pratt Street at Cannan Fuels. Fire Chief Neil Boldrighini said a variety of combustible materials made the fire spread quickly.
"In a garage you have a variety of things in there, including gasoline. The tires themselves will explode," said Boldrighini.
Mansfield Police shared a photo that showed heavy flames and black smoke pouring from the building.
Police Chief Ronald Sellon confirmed that one person was taken from the scene by MedFlight helicopter. He is believed to have life-threatening injuries.
The fire department said a man was working on a car in the area when it caught fire.
Witnesses told WBZ-TV that as the garage went up in flames, employees sprung into action to rescue the employee who was trapped. They helped him escape, but the man was engulfed in flames as he ran from the building.
"They ran in to get him. It seemed like an eternity that they were in there. Then they came out and he was on fire," said Shannon Adams, who lives across the street. "I'm a nurse. I was powerless to go over there because the gas station was exploding one time after the next. So I watched this man on fire and could do nothing about it."
All employees and customers have been accounted for.
Firefighters knocked down flames and hot spots. Traffic was diverted from the area of Route 106 and Hope Street for several hours.
Throughout the evening, members of the community stopped by the repair shop. They all expressed a similar sentiment.
"I just came by to see if anyone was here to offer up some help," said Kevin Hughes, a tow truck driver. "I hope he's OK I know he's in the hospital."
The injured mechanic is in his 60's. The owner says he is currently in the ICU listed in stable condition.
"To even see what happened here makes me want to cry," said Hughes.
A longtime customer has set up a GoFundMe page to help the employees impacted by the fire.
