A Canadian man caught in a photo appearing to fill up garbage bags with fuel from a Bellingham gasoline station told a Vancouver, B.C., newspaper that he had gas cans inside the bag.

The story was a viral hit over the weekend, appearing on Seattle and Vancouver TV stations and websites. KOMO News first reported the photo of the man allegedly filling three plastic garbage bags with gasoline.

The Province said the man - identified only as "Bill" from Maple Ridge, B.C. - told them he put jerry cans inside the garbage bags to prevent spillage in the trunk of his SUV.

"What kind of a stupid person would put gas in a plastic bag?" the man said. "You can see (the bags) weren't overflowing like they would if you were putting liquid."

Fred Meyer officials issued a statement Monday, Aug. 20, saying the man is a regular customer and puts the containers inside garbage bags to protect from leaks and odors.

"It's actually impossible to fill a garbage bag with gasoline as it would disintegrate the plastic very quickly," said a statement on Fred Meyer's Facebook page. "There were insufficient facts to support the media's version of this situation. Fred Meyer only allows approved gasoline containers to be filled up at the pump, and the safety of all our customers - especially at our fuel stations - is always a top priority."