Motorist sets lighter to spider at gas station, burns pump
![b1a48617-cropped gas station fire_1443367383119.jpg](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox32chicago.com/www.fox32chicago.com/content/uploads/2019/08/764/432/b1a48617-cropped20gas20station20fire_1443367383119_281327_ver1.0_640_360.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Image from surveillance video shows motorist starting gas station blaze trying to kill spider with lighter. (WJBK)
CENTER LINE, Mich. (AP) — A man with an apparent case of arachnophobia caused a fire at a suburban Detroit gas pump by putting a lighter to what he says was a spider near his fuel door.
WJBK-TV reports Saturday that he escaped injury and his vehicle suffered little damage, but the gas pump was destroyed. A clerk shut off the pump from indoors and called the fire department.
The motorist can be heard on the surveillance video at the Center Line station asking: "Is that a spider in there?" The video then shows flames erupting along the car's side, the pump and the pavement.
The man darts to safety and later uses a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. A spider is not seen.
The clerk says he apologized the next day.