Gasoline and Flammable Substance Safety

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• Gasoline and flammable substances are involved in one-third of all burn center admissions and nearly one-fifth of all burn-related deaths in Oklahoma.
• Gasoline-related burns are often caused by gasoline being thrown on a fire or ignited by a match; this is a serious problem, usually involving bonfires, trash, or brush.
• Gasoline vapors are heavier than air and can flow invisibly along the ground for a considerable distance and be ignited by a flame or spark.
• Gasoline that has been spilled on clothes or a person’s body can be ignited just by walking near a fire.
• It is illegal to burn trash in an area where trash collection services are available.
• Recycle, compost, and use tree clippings as mulch to reduce the use of brush fires.

Prevention

• Gasoline should never replace charcoal lighter fluid to ignite fires.
  • Gasoline can produce vapors that can ignite at all temperatures, even at 45°F below zero. In comparison, charcoal lighter fluid does not produce vapors unless the temperature is over 160°F.
• Teach children:
  • never to use or play with gasoline or other flammable liquids;
  • about the hazardous properties of gasoline and other flammable liquids;
  • never to use or play with matches or lighters;
  • life-saving techniques like stop, drop, and roll.
• Never use gasoline to:
  • start or restart a fire;
  • clean greasy engine parts;
  • thin paint or clean brushes.
• Properly store gasoline:
  • use approved gasoline safety containers (non-approved containers can explode and leak the gasoline);
  • never store gasoline inside the home;
  • do not store gasoline near hot water tanks or furnaces in the garage.
• When fueling engines:
  • refuel lawn mowers and other engines only after they are off and have cooled;
  • only refuel outside the home in a well-ventilated area;
  • never re-enter your vehicle while fueling at a gas station.

Internet Resources

• National Fire Protection Association (Search for “gasoline and propane”)
• Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
• Oklahoma State University    
  • The Dangers of Backyard Trash Burning
  • Need to Burn Debris? Burn Within the Law

Injury Prevention Service, OSDH, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Revised February 2012

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