Gas Station Erupts In Flames, Smoke Column Visible For Miles In Riverside County Desert

THOUSAND PALMS, CA — Flames and a column of thick black smoke rose skyward Friday after a semi-truck caught fire at a Riverside County gas station, officials say.

Just after 1 p.m., Cal Fire/Riverside County Firefighters responded to the scene reports of an explosive fire burning at the Flying J Travel Center on Varner Road in Thousand Palms.

"The semi-truck caught fire and spread to a nearby truck," Karina Espinosa told Patch. "The awning above the gas pumps was also damaged, requiring extensive overhaul."

Six engines were called to the scene and managed to keep the burning away from the store, which was reportedly closed as of 2 p.m.

Firefighters managed to contain the blaze by 1:30 pm., and the incident command has called Riverside County Environmental Health and the Hazardous Materials Teams to the scene.

The blaze was contained as of 1:35 p.m.

Firefighters say they were committed to the scene until at least 5 p.m., and that there would be "extensive overhaul" at the gas station.

No one was available to answer at the Flying J Travel Center as of this report.

The cause of the initial semi-truck fire remains under investigation as of this report.