A gas station in Comox caught fire yesterday afternoon.
A motor vehicle drove into a gas pump at the ESSO gas station on Anderton Road just before 7 pm, resulting in both a car fire and a structure fire of the station itself.
Comox Fire Rescue Captain Pascal Lafreniere says there were only minor injuries on-site at the time of the incident.
“We had to evacuate the Anderton Place apartment because it was quite close to the area,” says Lafreniere. “We got a great response from Comox Fire Rescue with 22 members responding, along with help from both Courtenay Fire Department, and Cumberland fire department with controlling the fire.”
While the car and station suffered significant damage, a building next to the station sustained some heat, but the crew was able to prevent it from catching fire.
“It was quite a large fire and it took a good hour to fully control it,” says Lafreniere. “The priority is on the fire so we make sure that no other building gets impacted by it.”
In terms of injuries, one customer from the apartment suffered from smoke inhalation, and the driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries.
Comox mayor Nicole Minions thanked the department for responding to the fire.
“We are grateful for the commitment of our local and regional fire departments and first responders in their actions this evening,” she says in a social media statement. “Sending the small business owners our thoughts and community support this evening and into the future.”
The town advises motorists to stay clear of the area if you aren’t local traffic while they deal with the fallout from the now-contained fire. Air quality in the area is expected to be temporarily poor so nearby residents are advised to keep windows closed.
