Man ignites gas nozzle at Southeast Austin gas station

A fuel truck driver captured pictures of a man lighting a gas nozzle and then trying to set the whole pump on fire. Police said it was Christopher Kempf, 45. The incident happened at the Shell gas station at the intersection of Riverside and Montopolis Drive just before 4 am Wednesday

“I haven't seen somebody be actually successful lighting a fuel nozzle on fire before,” said Capt. Andy Reardon, Austin Fire Department.

But he was successful and bystanders saw it. Police and fire investigators arrived in time to stop the man before he could cause any harm.

“Had there been more vapors around from a fuel spill, or leftover gas in the nozzle, it could’ve ignited, it could have blown up. He could've injured himself,” said Reardon.

The gas station is open 24 hours and an attendant was on duty. It was a lucky outcome for this suspect, and those who were in the vicinity. Fire investigators say liquid gas did not need to be present to start a major fire.

“It's actually the vapors that ignite, not the liquid. So somewhere in that area, the vapors could have been, and that flame could have actually ignited the vapor and make a pretty big flash fire, injuring, possibly killing him or anybody else who had been around,” said Reardon.

Court paperwork, states that Kempf said evil spirits were chasing him. Police also say he was high on K-2, a synthetic form of marijuana. Police arrested him for other outstanding warrants but while in jail, they were able to charge him with deadly conduct for this incident.