When a man tried to kill a spider at a petrol station with a cigarette lighter, his plan backfired in spectacular fashion and his car and a petrol pump were set ablaze. The unidentified man in Detroit was not seriously injured and managed to escape the scorching flames and the damage was contained to one pump which was destroyed.

News network Fox reported that the motorist put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. He told police that when he saw the spider on his petrol tank he pulled out the lighter to kill it because he was extremely afraid of the eight-legged creatures.

"He didn't have a cigarette. He didn't have anything on him. All of a sudden I look out and I see flames," employee Susan Adams told Fox 2. Adams was alarmed and quickly called the fire department.

Before the rescue team arrived, the man managed to grab a fire extinguisher and put out the flames. Luckily his car was not badly damaged and he dared to show his face at the petrol station the next day to fill car up.

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