COVINGTON, Wash. --
Two people were burned after the driver of a van stopped to get propane at a gas station in the Covington Monday afternoon.
The Kent Fire Department found the van fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived at the gas station in the 16700 block of Southeast 272nd Street after receiving a call at 4:15 p.m.
According to at least one report, the relief valve on the large propane distributor tank had automatically opened to dissipate the pressure build up from the nearby fire. There was no explosion. It took firefighters 10 minutes to control the fire and cool the propane tank.
SLIDESHOW: Propane Fire Burns Van, Injures 2
One of the people hospitalized was a passenger in the van and the second burn victim, who was also hospitalized, was an employee of the gas station.
It is not clear whether the fire was caused by static electricity, propane gas finding an ignition source, or mishandling of the product, the Fire Department said.
The van was a total loss and the propane tank distribution system was damaged. The gas pumps and fuel system were not in any danger from the fire.
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