Gas Pumps

[hustond]

Saw this video out there about a gas pump fire started from static electricity:

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=19779

Anyone else seen or been on anything like this? I'm sure she had a huge pucker factor. Have to give her a little credit for pulling out he nozzel.

Stay safe,
DPH

[BVFD305]

Correct me if I am wrong (like there was any doubt that you would ;-) but I was told that pulling the nozzle out was the exact thing not to do. Gas pumps were designed to contain a fire to some extent. Can you imagine pulling the nozzle out if the gas was still pumping. It would create an awesome flame thrower effect. I think moving away from the pump quickly, and activating the emergency shutdown would be the best thing to do.

[Chauffeur6]

Wow, that's pretty insane. I responded to a call once where the static discharge from an ungrounded plastic container caused a flash fire, but never something like that. I'm sure had she touched the car first and discharged the static it would've never happened. She kept pretty damn calm all things considered.

[Chauffeur6]

Correct me if I am wrong (like there was any doubt that you would ;-) but I was told that pulling the nozzle out was the exact thing not to do. Gas pumps were designed to contain a fire to some extent. Can you imagine pulling the nozzle out if the gas was still pumping. It would create an awesome flame thrower effect. I think moving away from the pump quickly, and activating the emergency shutdown would be the best thing to do.

Actually, by pulling the nozzle out two things happen. First, the pump should trip and shut off automatically. Second, the vent valve in the fill tube will close, effectively choking off the oxygen supply to the tank itself and cutting off the flames. Yes, if the nozzle is still spewing fuel, it will make matters worse, which is why it's probably best to shut it off yourself before yanking it out. I think had she not pulled it out, the fire would've been much worse if the fuel was still actively flowing.

[BirkenVogt]

Correct me if I am wrong (like there was any doubt that you would ;-) but I was told that pulling the nozzle out was the exact thing not to do. Gas pumps were designed to contain a fire to some extent. Can you imagine pulling the nozzle out if the gas was still pumping. It would create an awesome flame thrower effect. I think moving away from the pump quickly, and activating the emergency shutdown would be the best thing to do.

You are correct, with the nozzle still inside the car you have one fire but when you pull it out now you have two, plus the chance for gas to get loose on the ground.

If I could get my hand on it like she did, I would first click off the fuel flow before going for the emergency stop but the most foolproof thing to do would be just to go for the big red stop button.

Birken

[Firetacoma1]

Well the pump had obviously already clicked off when the fire ignited, so it wasn't going to be spewing fuel anymore (though I doubt she thought of that). But in general, yes, leave the nozzle in the vehicle and hit the stop lever (if possible and safe) or the emergency shut-off which should be located outside the station somewhere.

[rfdlou]

Pretty cool customer

Well the pump had obviously already clicked off when the fire ignited, so it wasn't going to be spewing fuel anymore (though I doubt she thought of that). But in general, yes, leave the nozzle in the vehicle and hit the stop lever (if possible and safe) or the emergency shut-off which should be located outside the station somewhere.

Looks to me like she reached in & clicked of the nozzle before she removed it. Pretty cool customer for a girl.(now I did it)

[hustond]

I was just waiting.......

The funny thing is when you think about how often people get gas and this potential exists either by smoking or static electricity.

DPH

[djgilbert32]

It seems to behappening more and more these days, and reports also say it tends to happen more with women, because they are usually the ones that start pumping the gas and then get back in the vehicle while it pumping, they also say if you do this to touch your vehicle to ground or discharge yourself to reduce the risk of static discharge near the nozzle.

[nmfire]

I doubt it is happening more and more. It is just the one time it does happen, videos and the internet make a huge deal about it so people think it some big growing problem.

[Rescue101]

We've had several to deal with,generally when people fill plastic 5 gal containers on those plastic pickup bed liners.And yes,it is getting more prevalent.All the gas pumps around here have written warnings on them but I don't think most people can read. T.C.

[hustond]

The filling of the plastic containers on their truck bed is another fine example of darwinism as far as I'm concerned. Especially since, like you stated it's written on the pump.

[grains]

Correct me if I am wrong (like there was any doubt that you would ;-) but I was told that pulling the nozzle out was the exact thing not to do. Gas pumps were designed to contain a fire to some extent. Can you imagine pulling the nozzle out if the gas was still pumping. It would create an awesome flame thrower effect. I think moving away from the pump quickly, and activating the emergency shutdown would be the best thing to do.

I once had a friend drive off with the nozzle still in the truck.

No real damage to any components as it was designed specifically for this.

When the nozzle separated, a ball valve of some sort seemed to slide into place which prevented more fuel from exiting the hose.

[nmfire]

Actually, by pulling the nozzle out two things happen. First, the pump should trip and shut off automatically...

Of all the places I've filled up in my lifetime, I can probably count on one hand the number of pumps that actually shut off without constant pressure on a nozzle boot. I would say a good 90% of them will keep running even after removing the nozzle.

The ones that actually had a very functional boot that could tell when the nozzle was seated were such a pain in the butt, you had to stand on the thing to get the pump to stay running.

[5pts384]

In Florida the Trigger locks have been removed, you must stand there and hold the trigger down or the gas stops flowing. This takes care of the getting back in the car or pulling the handle out without the gas shutting off.