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Gasoline Safety

There has been a steady decline in the average number of gasoline fires in homes each year since 1980 when there were 15,000 fires.

Facts & Figures*

In 1998, there were 4,700 gasoline fires in U.S. homes, resulting in 86 deaths, 463 injuries and $92 million in direct property damage.
53% of home gasoline fires each year between 1994 and 1998 were categorized as incendiary or suspicious. Three-quarters of civilian injuries resulted from unintentional causes such as: fuel spills or releases; using gasoline to wash parts, clean or refinish; gasoline too close to a heat source; children playing; improper storage; using gasoline to kindle a fire; and improper fueling technique.
Matches were the most common ignition source in home gasoline fires.
* From NFPA's U.S. Home Product Report: Forms and Types of Materials First Ignited in Fires, December 2001.

SAFETY AT FUELING STATIONS

Since 1980, the number of vehicle fires at service stations has more than doubled, partly because of the increase in the number of vehicles on the road, while structure fires and other fires decreased by 10 percent. Starting in the late 1990s, NFPA and other organizations have received isolated reports of flash fires, apparently caused by static electricity, while patrons were pumping gasoline.

Facts & Figures*

An estimated 7,400 fires and explosions occurred at public service stations per year from 1994 through 1998. That means that, on average, one in every 13 service stations experienced a fire. These 7,400 fires caused an annual average of two civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $18 million in property damage.

Of those 7,400 fires, nearly two-thirds (4,620) involved vehicles. Vehicle fires led to an annual average of one civilian death, 37 civilian injuries and $7.7 million in property damage.

Mechanical or electrical problems caused three out of four vehicle fires at public service stations.

Gasoline was the material first ignited in one-third of vehicle fires at these properties.

Seventeen percent of the outside fires (excluding vehicle fires) and 10 percent of the structure fires were started by cigarettes.

Static discharge was blamed for 3.2 percent of fires that occurred outside vehicles or structures.

Safety Tips:

Keep gasoline out of children's sight and reach.
Do not use or store gasoline near possible ignition sources (i.e., electrical devices, oil- or gas-fired appliances, or any other device that contains a pilot flame or a spark).
Store gasoline outside the home (i.e., in a garage or lawn shed) in a tightly closed metal or plastic container approved by an independent testing laboratory or the local or state fire authorities. Never store gasoline in glass containers or non-reusable plastic containers (i.e., milk jugs).
Store only enough gasoline necessary to power equipment and let machinery cool before refueling it.
Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent.
Clean up spills promptly and discard of clean-up materials properly.
Do not smoke when handling gasoline.
Never use gasoline in place of kerosene.
Use caution when fueling automobiles. Do not get in and out of the automobile when fueling. Although rare, an electrical charge on your body could spark a fire, especially during the dry winter months.
Only fill portable gasoline containers outdoors. Place the container on the ground before filling and never fill containers inside a vehicle or in the bed of a pick-up truck.
Do not use cellular phones or other electrical devices while fueling vehicles.
For more information on gasoline safety, visit the American Petroleum Institute Web site.

Safety Tips for the Garage

Tips for the garage

Never store gasoline, paints or flammable liquids in your home.
Store gasoline outside your home or in a detached garage or shed in a well-ventilated area, and keep it stored in an approved container. Use it only as a motor fuel, never as a cleaning agent.
Store paint and other flammable liquids (turpentine, mineral spirits, varnishes, camp stove fuels, etc.) in their original containers with tight fitting lids. Store away from appliances, heaters, pilot lights and other sources of flame or heat.
Remember: never smoke near flammable liquids.
Always store propane cylinders outside. Never store it in the garage
Remove all trash from your house. Never store trash near your furnace or heater.

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