Two people were sent to the hospital this afternoon with burn injuries when a van
caught fire after the occupants stopped to get propane at a gas station in the 16700
block of SE 272 St.
The first call to 9-1-1 was made at approximately 4:15 p.m., and the van was already
fully engulfed in flames when Kent Fire Department firefighters arrived.
According to at least one report, the relief valve on the large propane distributor
tank had automatically opened to dissipate the pressure build up from the nearby
fire. There was no explosion. It took firefighters 10 minutes to control the fire
and cool the propane tank.
One of the people sent to the hospital was a passenger in the van and the second
burn victim, who was also hospitalized, was an employee of the gas station.
It is not clear at this time whether the fire was caused by static electricity,
propane gas finding an ignition source, or mishandling of the product. A fire investigator
is on scene to determine the cause.
The van was a total loss and the propane tank distribution system was damaged. A
company representative for the propane company has been contacted. The gas pumps
and fuel system were not in any danger from the fire.
