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ELMONT, NY – An unusual accident Monday afternoon nearly turned disastrous if not for the fast response of the Elmont Fire Department and a gas stations automatic ansul fire suppression system.

Just before 2:00PM numerous 911 calls began pouring in to both Nassau County and New York 911 operators reporting an auto accident in a gas station with a vehicle on fire at Linden Blvd and Elmont Road in Elmont only blocks out of Queens, NY. Additional calls reported a car, building and gas pump on fire inside a gas station.

An FDNY Fire Marshal unit in the area gave a verbal to the Queens fire dispatcher for a car fire in a gas station at the location and asked for the box to be transmitted. Queens fire units were returned when it was determined that the incident was in the Elmont Fire District.

The Elmont Fire Department was assigned originally to a report of an auto accident with possible car fire and while en route, due to numerous reports of the incident being in a gas station, Elmont Second Assistant Chief Michael Capoziello, car 7012, ordered the alarm retransmitted as a general alarm.

Chief Capoziello arrived on scene moments later and reported the incident to be in the Gulf gas station at Elmont Road and Linden Blvd. After a full scene size up he reported that he had a single car accident with an auto into the gas pumps. He further reported that the impact had knocked over the pump which was now on fire and that the service stations automatic ansul system had activated knocking down the bulk of the fire.

First due engine 703 was ordered to stretch a 1 ¾ inch hand line and operate on tank water to extinguish the remaining fire involving the pump and auto. Second due engine 702 secured a water source in case augmentation was needed. First due ladder 707 checked the area for extension and overhauled where necessary.

The driver of the Hyundai Elantra which apparently left the roadway and hopped two curbs before crashing into the pump, was transported to a local hospital by Nassau County Police ambulance.

The Nassau County Hazardous Material Team was requested to the scene to mitigate several gallons of gasoline that was spilled when the pump was knocked off its base.