NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A North Providence gas station will remain closed for the next few days after a pickup truck caught fire at one of the pumps Friday afternoon. North Providence Fire Chief John Horan said the driver pulled into the Shell station on Mineral Spring Avenue to refuel and was pumping gas when the truck ignited. The driver was able to run to safety, with Horan adding that she was "lucky enough to get away unharmed." The flames triggered gas station's fire suppression system once the truck's temperature rose to 225 degrees, according to Horan. The fire suppression system doused the flames with hundreds of pounds of ABC powder, which is the same dry chemical that's found in household fire extinguishers. "There are cylinders on top of [the gas station canopy] that fire out the powder," Massachusetts Fire Technologies technician Steven Palin explained, adding that the cylinders each weigh roughly 200 pounds. "It's almost instantaneous once it hits — it suffocates the fire." Palin credited the fire suppression system with keeping the flames at bay and preventing them from spreading to the gas tanks. "It did its job," Palin said. "If [the flames] ignited one of those tanks, I mean, who knows what could have happened. There were definitely lives saved." Palin was among the technicians tasked with removing the empty cylinders from the gas station canopy while firefighters spent hours mopping up the powder, which blanketed the entire parking lot. Though the powder is "highly corrosive to vehicles," Palin said it isn't toxic to humans. "It will make your tongue tingle, but you'll survive," he explained, noting that it is better than the alternative in dangerous situations like this one. Horan said the truck was experiencing mechanical issues prior to arriving at the gas station, which is likely why it burst into flames. The Shell station is expected to reopen once the remainder of the mess is cleaned up and the fire suppression system is back up and running. March 14, 2025 - Truck catches fire at Shell gas station in North Providence (WPRI-TV)March 14, 2025 - Truck catches fire at Shell gas station in North Providence (WPRI-TV)March 14, 2025 - Truck catches fire at Shell gas station in North Providence (WPRI-TV)March 14, 2025 - Truck catches fire at Shell gas station in North Providence (WPRI-TV) Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media:                     Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW ...read more read less