A man miraculously escaped serious injury despite setting a gas station on fire in an attempt to kill a spider that was near his gas cap.

In surveilance video, an unidentified man can be seen reaching down to his gas cap with a lighter. He later admitted he was trying to kill a spider because he is "deathly afraid" of them.

Susan Adams, an employee at the station, hit the pump stop button and contacted the fire department.

The gas station's insurance is expected to cover any damages, Fox 2 said.

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Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC