Fairfax County Police Department News

SULLY DISTRICT – A Centreville man has received treatment for severe burns after officers located him following an incident at a local Shell Gas Station. Officers from the Sully District Station in Chantilly were called to the Shell Gas Station, 5501 Union Mill Road in Clifton, on February 25, following the report of a man whose clothing caught fire while dispensing fuel. When officers arrived at the gas station, they met with the attendant who had collected a burnt coat which had been discarded by the customer. According to the attendant, he observed a man pumping gas into his vehicle and then observed the man attempting to extinguish flames from his clothing. The attendant checked on the man, who initially stated he was fine. The man drove away, leaving his burned coat behind. When officers arrived, the attendant told them what he observed and pointed out the burnt coat that he had collected. An officer checked the coat and located an identification card for the man. Officers then responded to the man’s home to check on his welfare. Initially, the officers checked the front of the home and received no answer at the door. They checked the property, and located the man’s vehicle as well as found the garage door and an interior door standing open at the rear of the residence. Officers called out to the man and eventually heard him respond. When the officers located the man, they found him laying on the floor and shaking badly. He appeared to have severe burns to his upper body. The officers called for an ambulance and he was transported to the hospital. A preliminary investigation revealed that the man’s coat had been previously stained with a flammable liquid. While he was pumping gas, he was striking a lighter and the spark from the lighter ignited his coat. The Fairfax County Fire Marshall’s Office was also consulted to assist in the investigation. Without the efforts of the responding officers, the man may have suffered a more serious medical emergency.