Stylist's Hair Catches Fire at Gas Pump

[EdwardKnoxII]

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp...20031111MOLG101

 

Stylist's Hair Catches Fire at Gas Pump

 

ALBANY, Ga. (AP) - A hair stylist was pumping gas into her car when her hair burst into flames.

 

``That scared me to death,'' said stylist Traci Marshall.

 

The fire was probably caused by static electricity from Marshall's hair rubbing against her clothes, said her husband, Camilla firefighter Lt. Bill Marshall.

 

The static electricity apparently mixed with gas fumes and ignited the fire Sunday.

 

``I started beating my hair to get out the fire and saw flames coming out of the gas tank,'' she said.

 

A man with a fire extinguisher put out the blaze.

 

Traci Marshall had to cut her hair and get her truck repaired.

 

Bill Marshall advised people to ground themselves before pumping gas by touching the metal of their cars.

 

``Once you get out of your vehicle, don't get back into the vehicle until you are through,'' he said.

 

Officials also remind people to turn off cell phones and pagers when pumping gas because those devices can also spark explosions.

[Guest Cerebus]

Reminds me of a line in GTA:VC

 

"Be careful with those lighters! I held one too close once and my hair went up like a christmas tree!"

[Guest Bottled Black]

Camilla firefighter Lt. Bill Marshall.

Was I the only one reminded of Jim Carey's Fire Marshall Bill character? " Lemme show ya somethin' "

 

Seriously though I had no idea that could actually happen. Maybe she used Aqua Net Hairspray before leaving work?

[Guest ToddRoyal]

I've seen the "discharge static electricity before pumping" warnings on gas pumps, but I didn't realize that actually HAPPENED to people. Yeesh. Remind me to power down next time I fill up.