Fueling from plastic containers

""Now, back to my question. I am not interested in web sites that talk
about filling gas cans in the back of pick ups. I am interested in
hearing from anyone who has actually witnessed or knows of someone who
has been involved in a combustion occurring from using a plastic or
metal gas can. My point is that I think the regulations on all of
this are probably just bull ****. --Juaquin"


I recently retired from Tulsa Oklahoma Fire Dept after 26 years. Tulsa
metro area has about 500,000 people. The Department has 700 members and
makes about 40,000 responses a year. That career allowd me to pay the bills
while playing at the airport.

These incidents DO happen,. they just don't usually make the 6o o'clock
news or the front page.

My self, during my career, I can recall 6 incidents gas tank static
electricity interactions.
Generally these were gas fumes that ignited and 'blow torched' above the
filler opening for a few seconds.
I recall most were non-injury. Though One person had 25% burns to the
upper body. The upper body 25% so that means the entire front upper body
was burnt.

One incident was a plastic 55 gal drum in the back of a pickup with a bed
liner. No injuries.

And during thje last 3 years, I heard of two other incidents in our area
that were women filling their cars at the gas pumps.. We surmise while
they got in and out their panty hose built a charge.
Afterwards, both had to return home to change their panties!

I think severe burns are the worse injury a human body can suffer. Spend
some time in a hospital burn unit and I think you'll accept my opinion.

Additionally, within the last 5 years I think there have been two major
hangars fires in Texas and I heard one definietely was caused from aircraft
fuel tanks being drained into plastic drums.

So Jauquin if you laugh at fire codes, you are a damn fool.

Kent Felkins
CFII, A&P/IA
FAA CRS
Tulsa Oklahoma