traindude
Champion Author
Virginia Beach
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 11:45:48 AM
the cycle repeats over & over. its sad and avoidable. maybe there should be ads during the winter months reminding people how to avoid this accident, maybe it should be a required test answer on all licences issued and maybe there should be signs posted at every gas pump. and cell phones have nothing to do with these accidents.
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jedintheshed
Champion Author
Colorado Springs
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 11:36:04 AM
So sad
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TJC47
Champion Author
Indianapolis
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 9:46:26 AM
These vehciles sould be equipped a grounding strap!
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skybiker
Champion Author
South Carolina
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 9:44:05 AM
Jeff4u, You are so misguided. Police radios produce 5 times the energy of cell phones. Each of our 400 cars is fueled at least 2 times a day as well. So, in 30 years of driving police cars and talking on portable radios never once has their been a fueling fire at my department. This is not a risk.
This is all a bunch of junk science. Cell phones don't produce static electricity, friction does. Usually in cars with fabric interiors.
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ENORMS
Champion Author
Colorado
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 7:19:39 AM
If the vehicle ignites while fueling, do not pull the nozzle out!!
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Powerstroke73L
Champion Author
Sacramento
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:38:00 AM
Diesel won't ignite from a spark so I don't worry anyway but I've always kinda figured that when I'm at a station and I'm pumping fuel, I'm going to devote 5 minutes of my life to pumping the fuel and I can do it without having a phone stuck to my ear.
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CruisinLinda
Champion Author
Tallahassee
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:33:22 AM
What does a "vapor recovery device" look like? Gasoline vapors are explosive. They do, after all, blow out heavy pistons from cylinders and power a few tons of a motor vehicle. Watch the nearby sparks from static electricity, even from cell phones in use. Children in car seats are especially vulnerable.
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OnTheWater
Champion Author
Orange County
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:29:10 AM
Scary!! This is becoming more common. I have heard of a lot of cases like this. I was getting gas one time and talking to my good friend and he said to hang up and call me back when I was done pumping gas and I was like what? Why?? So now I don't use my phone while pumping gas. And I usually do touch my car or truck first to ground myself. So fuel for thought touch your car 1st before pumping gas and hang up that cell phone!!!
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linga115
Rookie Author
Sacramento
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:22:59 AM
ground yourself and dont pull out the hose
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genef01
Champion Author
Nashville
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:19:55 AM
That's the reason you see the signs at most pumps today requiring the person pumping the gas to stay at the pump. I see a lot of folks start the pump and get back inside the car with it running, winter or summer, keeping cool or warm. I also see a lot of people using their cell phones while standing there pumping even though there is also a sign to leave electronic devices and cell phones inside the vehicle while the gas is pumping. People just don't know or care for their own personal safety at times like that.
I do know from work experience(CSX Transportation) that at least one employee was severely burned in the South Florida area while fueling a signal department truck at a self-serve pump while talking to his supervisor on the cell phone. CSX then came out with a Safety Rule for all departments that prohibited the use of cell-phones or walkie-talkies while fueling any company vehicles. This happened in the mid '90s.
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vulcan96
Champion Author
Ohio
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:13:49 AM
not much info in the article !
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Retowered
Champion Author
Colorado
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:13:48 AM
Cell phones can cause a fire also.
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GMVAN
Champion Author
Calgary
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:12:45 AM
I thought the pump handle was rubber coated to prevent static electricity.
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cheapertvs
Champion Author
Richmond
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:06:44 AM
Normally static electricity comes up as an issue where there is no vapor recovery system. Some very old pumps are not equipped with such systems.
Still, it is not mentioned in the article whether or not the engine was running when the man was filling his tank.
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pbc2001
Champion Author
Dallas
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:01:03 AM
Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
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EcoVore
Champion Author
Los Angeles
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:59:44 AM
How tragic! Thank the Lord most pumps are vapor recovery types.
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gougenator
Champion Author
Dallas
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:58:16 AM
so i guess thats why they make the nozzles cut off when you let go of the trigger so they cannot leave the gas running while they are away from the vehicle or get inside of it (but people cram the gascap in there to hold it on!)
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CobraLeader
Champion Author
New Jersey
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:54:28 AM
Self Service of gasoline is ILLEGAL in New Jersey.
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gougenator
Champion Author
Dallas
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:54:24 AM
DONT GET IN YOUR CAR WHILE FUELING! it HAPPENS
i did once BUT i touched the car before i went over to pullout the fuel nozzle (ground yourself to the car AND concrete/ground before touching the pump/nozzle! to be sure)
[Edited by: gougenator at 3/10/2010 1:55:16 AM EST]
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RENEGADEGAS
Champion Author
Missouri
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:51:35 AM
I dont know about PA. but if you read the pump warnings, it says to touch your vehicle to discharge static before pumping. Just follow the directions. Further, what does this story have to do with prices?
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ottodrommo
Champion Author
Wichita
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:50:23 AM
An interesting repost-JettaKnight: I didn't see Mythbusters, but this a for more common occurrence than people realize. When I younger, people around here would install static strips on there vehicles just for this purpose. Always taught to leave your hand on the pump or 'discharge' yourself before touching it again. In the previous post someone mentioned they use a clothing static guard during the winter months. Cell phones are another big no-no.
Every few years these are caught on tape. Static Electricity Gas Explosion at Gas Pump
[Edited by: otto_drommo at 3/10/2010 1:54:39 AM EST]
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Jeff4U
Champion Author
Atlanta
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:48:23 AM
I know one thing for sure ... when I get out of my car, a 2 inch mini-lightning bolt jolts me when I close the door. Also, I think people are complete IDIOTS who pump gas while on the cell phone. May they soon burn in hell at the pump.
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EVBuddy
Champion Author
Nevada
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:46:40 AM
That happened days ago. His Cell phone was at home, Car keys in his pocket.
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visitor_2
Champion Author
Orlando
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:46:04 AM
Quite possible
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benjy
Champion Author
Chicago
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:45:45 AM
Guess my science teacher was'nt kidding.......
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sjambok
Champion Author
Nashville
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:41:28 AM
Static electricity is everywhere. There are warnings that say not to go in your car while pumping fuel. Most ppl do. It's just the mentality. I don't anymore. Too much risk. I cringe when someone "lights up" at a station (yes ,they do do that in Tennessee.. i've seen it with my own eyes)
Just stay outside. The stuff is flammable.
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safetycaptain
Champion Author
Tampa
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:41:07 AM
Even more shocking when I was asked if I could light someones cigarette while she was pumping gas, I looked at her and asked if she wanted to be the headlines of the news that I didn't .
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grouch311
Champion Author
Illinois
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:40:31 AM
there going to outlaw filling your own tank pretty soon
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WhiteTreeIndian
Champion Author
New Jersey
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:36:45 AM
While tragic, that can happen anywhere and its supposedly the cause for that jet liner that blew up off LI years ago.
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Ply440GTX
Veteran Author
Kansas
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:35:55 AM
I wonder if the patron "freaked" and tried to pull the nozzle out while still pumping fuel??? I saw the video on the woman who did that and burned up. The nozzle's held open with the detent, it caught fire and she pulled the nozzle out feeding the flames with fuel... A scary, sad event nonetheless. The "full article" leaves a lot to the imagination...
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greenfog
Champion Author
Illinois
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:33:40 AM
static electricity can cause all kinds of problems and though it is not lightning by any means it is just as unpredictable as where and when it will show up.
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ops3
Champion Author
Cincinnati
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:31:41 AM
And some people still claim this can't happen!
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pattie09
Champion Author
Charleston
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:22:50 AM
THEY DON'T GIVE ALOT OF INFO ABOUT HOW IT HAPPENED !!! SORRY TO HEAR THAT HE DIED THOUGH !
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coughlin
Champion Author
San Jose
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:19:51 AM
OK, maybe it happen like they said. But I'd still like to read a good explanation of EXACTLY what happen and what has led them to that conclusion. Maybe its a privacy issue.
"A gas station equipment expert says the only other fatality from a static-generated fire was in Oklahoma more than a decade ago."
Then this incident was somewhere in the 1 in the billions?
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furiousfowl
Champion Author
Riverside
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:13:50 AM
thats too bad, people need to be more careful
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jadeusa
Champion Author
Dallas
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:12:24 AM
Most people that fill up their tank ignore the posting about not entering your car after starting to pump your gas. You just have to freeze while the
gas is being pumped for safety sake.
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roadrunnerMO
Champion Author
Kansas
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:11:30 AM
Bad scene. See folks smoking when pumping gas and I just walk away shaking my head.
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ashishpa
All-Star Author
St. Louis
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:09:55 AM
I never thought static could cause such big accident.
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TPlayer
All-Star Author
Fort Wayne
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:08:57 AM
Lol, nice Bubba44612...
JoeKR... I don't like NJ No Self Serve policy... most of the people in New Jersey then have no idea what to do if they ever venture across the state line and they create more of a hazard to themselves and everyone else because they don't know how to work a gas pump... I've seen these people try and it's a pathetic sight... what do you NJ people do when you leave the state?... ask the cashier to leave the store and wait on you hand and foot to come pump for you like you're royalty?
I can understand a fire starting, but not someone dying... people dump gas on yard waste all the time and get engulfed in a fire ball but run out with little more that singed eyebrows... there is more to this story
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250FORD
Champion Author
Minnesota
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:08:24 AM
What a way to go.
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defcon7
Champion Author
St. Louis
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:07:40 AM
That's gotta suck big time!
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cutter1330
Champion Author
Oklahoma
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:04:56 AM
That's one tuff thing to happen.
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scrounger
Champion Author
Vancouver
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:04:18 AM
pumped and saw pumped millions of gallons of gas when I managed service stations and never ever saw static sparks
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Gary65
Champion Author
Toronto
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:00:39 AM
I forgot about those Darwin award, haven't seen them in quite some time.
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bobdec
Champion Author
Florida
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 1:00:10 AM
An article on how to fuel your car safely
http://www.state.il.us/osfm/News/StopStatic.htm
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Saturn93
Champion Author
Salt Lake City
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 12:58:44 AM
What ever happened to the Darwin Awards?
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granitestater
Champion Author
New Hampshire
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 12:58:32 AM
Good thing this is a rare occurance. But it is still hard to believe it was static...
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dirt girl
Champion Author
Twin Cities
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 12:50:46 AM
altonb1 and Soxxie95, Winters in DesMoines are colder than winters in PA and OH and I believe NakedDriver does pump gas barefoot all year long. :)
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Bubba44612
Champion Author
Ohio
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 12:50:13 AM
Trying to put gas in an electric car, this is what you get.
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52MPG
Champion Author
Dayton
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Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 12:49:09 AM
This drives home the fact that gasoline will burn.
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