CRANBERRY TWP — An underground pump that transfers fuel to the gas pumps at Sheetz on Freedom Road caused some drama at the busy convenience store this morning.

Workers said a customer entered the store about 10 a.m. and told them the lid to a manhole near the gas pumps blew 10 feet in the air. Workers called 911 and the store and pumps were evacuated.

Township public safety director Jeff Schuler said initial inspection of the situation pointed to an explosion in a manhole holding the transfer pump, which moves fuel from the large underground gas tanks to the pumps.

Schuler said fumes might have ignited inside the manhole. He said smoke and flames were initially visible, but were extinguished quickly.

Schuler said no gas lines are in the manhole. He said Sheetz maintenance personnel were on their way to the store at 11 a.m. to assess the situation.

Cranberry police closed down Freedom Road from Route 228 to the lower entrance to the Cranberry Mall as well as Connector Street between the Sheetz and PNC Bank.

No other buildings were evacuated, and Freedom Road was re-opened by 10:50 a.m. Connector Street remained closed, and Schuler could not say when Sheetz would reopen.

Cranberry and Marshall township and Zelienople fire departments responded to the scene.