Cell phones causing fires at the pump!?

[Big-J]

The following is a warning from the Shell oil company regarding cell phones causing fires at the pump!:wtf: is there any truth to this? a buddy of mines from Conneticut sent it to me. just as a precaution im gonna leave my shit in the car! fire and shiny blue Protege5's dont mix!


The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in
which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling
operations.

In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during
fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline
pump.

In the second, an individual suffered severe burns to their face when
fumes ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car.

And in the third, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as
fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they
were fueling their car.


You should know that:
Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes

Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release
enough energy to provide a spark for ignition

Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling
lawn mowers, boat! , Etc.

Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other
materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, (i.e.
solvents, chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc.)

To sum it up, here are the: Four Rules for Safe Refueling


1) Turn off engine
2) Don't smoke
3) Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off
4) Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling

Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to
try and make people aware of fires as a result of"static electricity" at
gas pumps. His company has researched 150 cases of these fires.


His results were very surprising:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle
while the nozzle was still pumping gas. When finished, they went back to
pull the nozzle out and the fire started, as a result of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished.
This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when
connected with static charges.
7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was re-entered and the nozzle
was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some
resulted in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the
customer.
8) Seventeen fires occurred before, during or immediately after the gas
cap was removed and before fueling began.

Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it
with gas.

If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping,
make sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever
pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be
discharged before you ever
remove the nozzle.

As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along with
several other companies now, are really trying to make the public aware
of this danger. You can find out more information by going to
http://www.pei.org . Once here, click in the center of the screen where
it says "Stop Static".

I ask you to please send this information to ALL your family and friends,
especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping gas.
If this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get the children
out in time. Thanks for passing this along.

Mariellen R. Baxter
Head of Access Services Phone: 860 768.4266
Mortensen Library FAX: 860 768.5298
University of Hartford Email: Baxter@hartford.edu
*********************************
Diane Napert
Assistant Head, Allen Library
The Hartt School
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT 06117

Phone: (860) 768-4467
Fax: (860) 768-5295
Email: napert@mail.hartford.edu
*********************************

[PatrickP5]

:bs:

[Big-J]

could you back that up with a little more than just a bs flag

[Big-J]

according to the petroleum equipment institute pump fires are usually caused by static discharge and NOT cellular phones.or at least they have not heard of any documented cases. sorry for the false alarm.



Our report does not pertain to cellular telephones.

In fact, PEI has not been able to document a single refueling fire incident related to a cell phone.

Only refueling fires that appear to be started by static electrical discharge are detailed in our report. None of the electrical discharges we have documented involved any electronic devices.

[PatrickP5]

Some things are just beyond reason and require little else besides a BS flag. This is one of them. While static electricity can create sparks strong enough to ignite gas vapors (when you feel a static shock, it's at least 2,000kW) and is actually a remote threat, cell phones do not really create this kind of problem.

Another little nugget of trivia for you: If you ever look at a table showing the triboelectric series of materials, you'll see that cars, especially ones that have fabric seats that have been stain guarded (teflon) are prime for creating static electricity. This is why a lot of people shock the hell out of themselves every time they get out of the car. The triboelectric table, simply put, puts materials in order of increasing/decreasing positive or electric charge. The farther two materials are apart from each other, the better they create static electricity. Guess what two materials are at opposite ends of this chart? You guessed it - human hands and all the things on your car seat, especially if you've had it stain guarded.

In the end, you have to decide for yourself whether you believe
a)what I claim is a made-up story spammed across the internet, or
b)some guy (me) posting about it on an internet message board.

If it makes you feel better, turn your phone off - it doesn't hurt (unless you miss an important call), but it's not necessary.


Patrick

[REMillers]

There has been many storeis surrounding this and think 1 or two actually were killed in fires. Unsure if it was directly related to the phones or the standard discharge.

But if you have a Nextel phone, then steer clear. :) These things disturb all kindas of equipment. Drives my car stereo nuts when talking to people, speakers cracking and poping. Does it with everyone else Nextel phones to.

[Kooldino]

Yeah, I must say, the Cell phone thing sounds like a crock.

[Sir Nuke]

You can throw up your BS flag if you like....

but if ANYONE is stupid enough to get out of their car....start pumping gas and then commence to use ANY ELECTRIC device, all of which have the potential to create a spark, then YOU need to be a winner of a "darwin award" and be removed from the gene pool.

Sorry.....even if there were only ONE chance in a MILLION that your cell could create the spark...is it worth it? is there ANY phone call that you have ever recieved that is so important that you would take that chance? that it just couldn't wait? I think not.....

(stash)

[REMillers]

Thats true Sir Nuke, can't they take the one minute to just put the phone down and pump gas. Seem people read papers and such as if their time is that valuable.

But anyone else see the little warnings now that are at the pumps, they now include a cell phone warning....so BS or not they are taking it seriously.

[HoustonP5]

Urban legend or truth, who knows. But next time you are pumping gas look at the warning sticker on the pump. The ones in my neighborhood have a warning against cells phone use.

[PatrickP5]

I'm not saying I get out of the car and I'm talking on the phone while I'm pumping gas - in fact, I don't talk on the phone while I'm driving around anyway. I couldn't agree more with the sentiment about people being so caught up with their phones and the newspaper when they should be worrying about other things. I'm just saying there are other things you need to worry about (such as static electricity) that pose much greater threats (several orders of magnitude greater) and this isn't really that big of a problem. It's more over-hyped than Charlie's Angels II, killer bees from the Amazon, and the new VW Beetle all put together.


Patrick

[P5blk_stal]

It has some truth to it. When I was in the military, the demolition men did a demonstration with a regular handheld CB radio and the antenna against a florescent light bulb. There was enough static electricity to light it. IMO, I think that a cell phone emitts more radio energy than a CB radio. It is just smart not to be the one who verfies if it is true or not.


p5blk_stal (blackp5)

[Sir Nuke]

What you say is very true Patrick....there ARE greater dangers than the cell phone....but its a danger none the less.

I for one certainly do NOT want to be the first in my neighborhood to win the CELL PHONE LOTTERY and blow up me and my car at the pumps.

(stash)

[kidkorrupt]

i saw it on the news. it can happen.

the worst though is static electricity, you can easily eliminate that by touching your car body before you touch the pump to dispel any built up charge from the carpeted interior.

if it ever happens to you don't pull the pump out. it spews gas and fire everywhere. a fireman did a demonstration where he showed the fumes extinguish themselves if you just leave it.

[Esteban Toledo]

http://www.phonebashing.com/

[bazooka joe]

the biggest issue at the pumps is when you start pumping gas go get back in your car, creating the static charge from the seat, then go back and touch the metal handle of the pump, gas vapors + spark = ignition!!:eek:

[TheLedge]

All the pumps around my area have big warning stickers on them saying not to get back into your car and NOT to use a cell phone. It might be a real remote chance but no phone conversation is worth the risk of getting your face burned off....or worse. I leave mine in the car.

[2K3 MSP]

At one of the Chevron stations i got to every once and a while, they had a display on the counter showing 4 or 5 photos in a sequence of a fire cause by someone on their cell phone while pumping gas. It scares the hell out of me thinking about it.

About that 1 in a million thing...I agree. Plus, if you were that "lucky person", assuming that you lived to tell about it, how embarassing would that be to know you ignored the warnings and got on your phone anyways?? POOF!! (flame)

[TheMAN]

they put "no cellphones" signs at canadian gas pumps about 2 years ago already

[UBlink]

2 links to the Urban Legends website:

Static Electricity - yes - http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.asp

Cel Phones - no -
http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

Smoking one cigarette anywhere anytime probably has a statistically greater chance of impacting your health than talking on a cel phone while fueling up. But don't get back in your car while it's filling with gas.

[prote5]

There was a guy at Lackland (San Antonio) who was on his cell phone pumping gas and caused a huge fire..... they made a video for it and showed it to us..... not saying they're not just trying to scare us but..... I think it could happen, even more so after watching the video

[ZiO]

I work at Imperial Oil and let me tell you that if ANYONE has a cell phone near the wells, or even a digital watch.... the shit will hit the fan. This also goes for safety in many gas plants in North Amertica. The odds of these devices actually being the cause of the fire are VERY slim, though it CAN happen. And unfortunately HAS happned and is why we watch safety videos and survalence videos of this sort of things happening. In a very gas-rich environment, especially near condensate gas, the atmosphere is very unstable and the slightest spark or ignition source can be fatal.

[Alberteaux]

and if you sneeze, your eyes will pop out. So don't sneeze at the pump.

[mouseOfMars]

yep, cell phones are bad....

so instead i only leave my car running and smoke
a cigarette to pass the time while i fill up my tank.

:D


...when i see people smoking while filling a tank...
i just drive away as FAST AS POSSIBLE.

[Reffoxel]

But if you have a Nextel phone, then steer clear. :) These things disturb all kindas of equipment. Drives my car stereo nuts when talking to people, speakers cracking and poping. Does it with everyone else Nextel phones to.

This is because Nextel phone transmitt at a higher wattage than most other cell phones. Since your stereo wires are not shielded they pick up the signal which is expressed as crackling and popping.

According to a computer tech I talk to once (he services computers at some of the local gas stations) The real reason they don't want you to use cellphones at the pump is that some (depending on the age of the system) or all of the info at the pump (amount of gas, price of gas, total amount and credit card info) is transmitted to the computer systems inside via wireless connection. Some cellphone (especially analog) can screw up that signal.

[Reffoxel]

It has some truth to it. When I was in the military, the demolition men did a demonstration with a regular handheld CB radio and the antenna against a florescent light bulb. There was enough static electricity to light it. IMO, I think that a cell phone emitts more radio energy than a CB radio. It is just smart not to be the one who verfies if it is true or not.


p5blk_stal (blackp5)

That's not due to static electricity that's due to electro magnetic induction. Similar but not the same as when a electrical charge in one sparkplug wire induces an electrical charge in a sparkplug wire next to it. Hence the reason for the helicoiled or shielded sparkplug wires that reduce or eliminate this phenomena.

[DE31]

i saw this on myth busters once.


"myth busted"

[Rudy23]

Thanks for the info Big-J, I think that there is truth to it for a large oil company to issue a warning. Good for you to stick out your neck and give the rest of us info.

Don't worry about some negative comments, it always happens on the board. It is what makes this board so interesting..... .

[RaiderMP5]

Can someone post that video proof of cell phones causing fires? My only knowledge of this is through snopes saying not poseible, Myth Busters attempting to cause a fire and failing, and the PEI and PMAA stating it is not possible.

[nonameheroes]

mythbusters on discovery channel proved this false. they couldnt get a full room of gas vapors to blow up with a cell phone, even with a direct electrical charge to the phone they couldnt do it. what probly happened was the static electricity like bazooka joe was mentioning caused the spark and kablooey!!!

[RaiderMP5]

I have sene videos of people who start pumping gas, go get in the car for something, come back out, touch the nozzle, then boom. That is possible. I will look for videos.

[RaiderMP5]

Well, that did not take long...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/27/earlyshow/living/ConsumerWatch/main638947.shtml

Click on the option for Free Video.

[crashed]

Is this crock still circulating the internet? Notice the article is dated in '04. Just because you saw it in the news does not mean it's true. I have seen many articles disclaiming this rumor since it start several years ago.

As stated in the earlier replies the TV show Myth Buster did a show on static electricity causing gasoline explosion to see if the cell phone rumor has any merit. They were creating a spark in a plastic enclosure full of gasoline fume and they could not ignite it. An ignition can only be created with the correct fuel to air mixture was what they determined. A cell phone cannot create a spark. Maybe the defective-exploding cell phone batteries that were recalled could cause an explosion.

Unless you're buying gas from an old pump they will always have a recirculating boot to limit the amount of fumes escaping into the atmosphere. You have a better chance of getting killed in an automobile accident than getting blown up in a gas station by a cell phone or not. Also, the CB radio did not create any static when it's antenna was held close to the light. That demonstration was misleading.

[OrngSpd03]

They Busted this on Mith Busters 2 months ago

[Pro5Monkey]

What's all this talk about cell phones and gas pumps blowing up? (jerkit) You young people just don't get it! When I was a kid we didn't have sissy cell phones to cause explosions at gas pumps!!! PLEASE!! We had good old fashion cigarettes, god dammit!!! (smoke) Back in the day you could light up at the pump and cause an explosion the old fashion way, by tossing your match right down the filler hole!!! You'd catch fire and have put it out by rollin' around on the ground cause we didn't have fancy fire extinguishers... AND WE LIKED IT!!! THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS, AND WE BLOODY WELL LOVED IT!!!

[RaiderMP5]

http://snl.jt.org/arc/char/DaCa-Grumpy%20Old%20Man.jpg


What's all this talk about cell phones and gas pumps blowing up? (jerkit) You young people just don't get it! When I was a kid we didn't have sissy cell phones to cause explosions at gas pumps!!! PLEASE!! We had good old fashion cigarettes, god dammit!!! (smoke) Back in the day you could light up at the pump and cause an explosion the old fashion way, by tossing your match right down the filler hole!!! You'd catch fire and have put it out by rollin' around on the ground cause we didn't have fancy fire extinguishers... AND WE LIKED IT!!! THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS, AND WE BLOODY WELL LOVED IT!!!

[Pro5Monkey]

http://snl.jt.org/arc/char/DaCa-Grumpy%20Old%20Man.jpg

THAT'S RIGHT SMART GUY!!! (thumb)

[SilverBulletES]

You guys are full of crap! It happened to my friend's Dad Mel OK?!?!

http://www.mentors.ca/nick-mel.jpg

[evilmonkeyMSP]

Your friends dad is Mel Gibson?!?!?!? Holly shit (rlaugh)




You guys are full of crap! It happened to my friend's Dad OK?!?!

http://www.mentors.ca/nick-mel.jpg

[Pro5Monkey]

You guys are full of crap! It happened to my friend's Dad Mel OK?!?!

http://www.mentors.ca/nick-mel.jpg


Hey, I know that guy! That's Bill Burns from Fire Lake, Virginia!!!!