Fire suppressant system at Shell station malfunctions
An aerial view of the Shell station with the parking lot covered in fire suppressing white powder. Photo by David Curran
The suppression system above the pumps which malfunctioned. Photo by Ethan Hunt
An aerial view of the Shell station with the parking lot covered in fire suppressing white powder. Photo by David Curran
The suppression system above the pumps which malfunctioned. Photo by Ethan Hunt
The fire suppression at the Shell service station on Cranberry Highway malfunctioned around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 and coated the parking lot and pumps in white powder.
No one was injured, and police and fire fighters responded quickly to the station. The area needed to be cleaned and the suppressant system refilled before the Shell could reopen.
Elliot Yusef, who works at the station, said the Shell would be “up and running” by the end of the day on Nov. 30.
Wareham Fire Department Captain Chip DeBlois said the systems used to extinguish fire at gas stations can malfunction due to cold weather or from someone bumping a pump with their vehicle.
DeBlois added that police did not witness or receive a report of someone hitting a pump.
Workers had already begun sweeping and powerwashing the asphalt by 10 a.m. Nov. 30 and Yusef said repairmen were on their way to refill the system.
“When we don’t find a cause, it’s definitely a malfunction,” DeBlois said.
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