Storm strikes-Sudden blast of violent weather leaves its mark

By Lisa Hobbs

Firemen discuss their next move after arriving at the Shell station on Smithville Highway where high winds ripped a fuel pump from its base late Wednesday night.

Disaster was averted as a storm packing high winds, heavy rain, and thunder and lightning ripped through the county Wednesday night. Two businesses suffered substantial damage.
A gas pump was ripped from its base shortly before midnight causing fire to erupt at the Shell station on Smithville Highway. Fortunately, an explosion was averted.
‘I was riding by on my bicycle and stopped in the Shell and all of a sudden a storm came up,’ said eyewitness Nathan Hyatt. ‘The winds were really strong and we were inside just trying to hold the doors shut and I saw a gas pump blow over. A fireball went up about head high and then there were two smaller flames shooting out of the base. The firefighters responded really quickly.’
McMinnville firefighters were on the scene in a matter of minutes, although the fire burned out before they arrived.
Also hit was the fireworks tent located in the parking lot of Northgate Shopping Center, which suffered thousands of dollars in damage to the tent itself and fireworks within.
‘The Lord was looking out for us,’ said Brittany Hall. She along with four others were inside the tent when it was ripped from the ground.
The winds were so strong that metal poles holding the tent were bent, some at 90 degree angles. Ropes, which were made to hold hundreds of pounds of pressure, were torn from metal supports. A Mobile Attic storage unit beside the fireworks stand appears to have been pushed across the parking lot, based on asphalt marks.
According to fireworks stand operator Nathan Smith, volunteers will be working to replace the unsalvageable tent and any fireworks that were damaged by the rain. Smith says the fireworks they sell are guaranteed. If anyone has difficulties, the item will be replaced.
The weather damage to the fireworks stand is a setback, but not the end, for Lighthouse Full Circle ‘ a homeless shelter for 18-25 year olds. The proceeds from the sale of the fireworks will be used to build the home were the old animal shelter stood.
A crew worked Thursday to repair the damaged Shell station pump and mount it back onto its base. With several volunteers helping to clean up the damaged fireworks tent and new fireworks on the way, the business is expected to be open today.