One person severely hurt in gas station explosion

MANSFIELD, MASS (WLNE) – The Mansfield fire department battled an intense fire Wednesday afternoon after an explosion was reported at the gas station Cannan Fuels.

ABC6 spoke to one of the employees who was inside at the time of the fire. Chris Metrano told reporters the head mechanic was welding on top of a 55-gallon drum of windshield washer solvent and the drum exploded.

“[The explosion] kicked me out of the inspection bay,” said Metrano. “I ran around front to see the whole place was engulfed in flames and my boss was trying to put the fire out with extinguishers.”

The head mechanic was badly burned as a result and airlifted to Boston Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, according to the Mansfield Fire Chief.

“We’re all shaken up right now” said Metrano. “We’re hoping he pulls through for a miraculous recovery.” 

According to the police department, firefighters from Norton, Easton, and Foxborough assisted in knocking down the fire. 

While Metrano said the fire started from the windshield solvent explosion, officials are still investigating the cause.

This is a developing story and ABC6 will update the story as details become available. 

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019