A Florida woman was set on fire while pumping gas after she refused to give money to a stranger whom she had just let borrow her phone. The woman's horrific injuries prompted the lieutenant governor to speak out on the attack.

The 41-year-old woman was pumping gas into her Volvo SUV at a Mobil gas station in Saint Petersburg on Thursday when she was approached by Eleanor Crawford, police said.

Crawford, 41, asked to borrow the victim's phone before she also asked for money. However, after the woman declined, Crawford used a lighter to ignite the gas nozzle, according to officials.

The victim's vehicle was engulfed in flames, leaving the woman seriously injured with second-degree burns.

She was transported to Tampa General Hospital, as officers quickly arrested Crawford just a block away on two charges of arson.

Scotty Gramling intervened after rushing to help the victim into his truck and called 911, according to the New York Post.

Gramling described the blaze as akin to a fireball.

The witness, who was parked nearby, had called the non-emergency line moments before the attack after he saw Crawford fight with a person who had just pulled her out of a road.

Police officers were already responding to his first report when Crawford allegedly set the woman ablaze.

The horrific nature of the crime elicited Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins to speak out about the importance of public safety.

'This happened in our community to a woman simply going about her life, and it is horrifying,' said Collins.

'People should be able to do something as ordinary as pumping gas without fearing for their safety.'

The lieutenant governor added that he is praying for the victim's recovery and is grateful for a Good Samaritan who stepped in to help, as well as the law enforcement officers and first responders who acted quickly.

'We will always stand behind the men and women who work every day to keep Floridians safe,' said Collins.

Officials said that Crawford has a lengthy criminal record that consists of several charges for drugs and alcohol.

'I don't know if alcohol and drugs were involved, but indicative of her history, there might've been something that diminished capacity there,' Assistant Police Chief Mike Kovacsev said.

'Why would she even do something like this? It's kind of a unique case because you don't see anything like this, especially something that results in such horrific burns.

'But they went out there, they worked with the fire department, and luckily they were able to get her stabilized, and she's going to make it.'

Crawford was booked on felony murder and arson charges.