Gasoline Fire Safety

Each year gasoline causes several thousand household fires, many of which result in injury and even death. It is helpful to remember gasoline is a volatile liquid that is constantly releasing flammable vapors, which are heavier than air and accumulate at the lowest point in an area. If released inside a building, these vapors sink to floor level and spread out across the room, and if these vapors make contact with an ignition source a flash-fire will likely result.

Gasoline Safety Basics

• Keep gasoline out of children’s reach and sight, and never allow children to handle gas
• Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent
• Never use gasoline to wash mechanical parts
• Never use gasoline to start a fire in barbecue pits or cooking grills
• Never use gasoline as a replacement for kerosene or diesel
• Do not use or store gasoline near potential ignition sources, including gas-fired water heaters that contain a pilot flame
• Follow all manufacturers’ instructions when using electronics (including all devices with batteries or connections to electrical outlets) near gasoline
• Clean up spills immediately and discard clean-up materials properly

In the Event of Gasoline Fire

• Leave the area immediately, and call the fire department
• Do not attempt to extinguish the fire
• Do not attempt to stop the flow of gasoline

Gasoline Storage

• Store gasoline outside in a garage or shed
• Never store gasoline in glass, or in plastic milk jugs and other non-reusable plastic containers
• Store gasoline in a tightly closed metal or plastic container designed, manufactured, and approved specifically for gasoline storage
• Store only the amount of gasoline necessary to power equipment and machinery
• Fueling and Handling Gasoline
• Do not smoke while handling gasoline
• Use caution when fueling machinery and automobile equipment
• Never fuel machinery or equipment indoors, and always let it cool before refueling
• Place portable gasoline containers on the ground before filling, and only fill them outdoors
• Never fill portable containers inside a vehicle or in the bed of a pick-up truck, to prevent a static charge from developing

Do not get in and out of automobiles while fueling … Although rare, this movement creates an electrical charge on your body that could spark a fire, especially during dry weather conditions