Fridge Off While Gassing up

dave54 wrote:

creeper wrote:
You'll never find a single case where a fridge started a gas station fire because it's never happened. Static electricity and smoking are the leading cause of gas station fires at the pumps.

Check that... I know of at least one. I was there.

Got a link to a news article?

creeper wrote:
You'll never find a single case where a fridge started a gas station fire because it's never happened. Static electricity and smoking are the leading cause of gas station fires at the pumps.

Check that... I know of at least one. I was there.

You'll never find a single case where a fridge started a gas station fire because it's never happened. Static electricity and smoking are the leading cause of gas station fires at the pumps.

momentum rv wrote:
...But wouldn't you have to stop somewhere prior to getting to the fueling station (cuz others are fueling at the station), turn off propane, move to fueling station, fuel up, move to safe parking area away from fueling station, restart propane then move on? Seems like way to much effort for VERY slight chance of any thing happening.

^^^ THIS ^^^

It is probably more likely that some other idiot at the gas station will do something stupid to ignite my RV then myself.

Propane going in = fridge off

gasoline going in = fridge left on

Another Fridge on while gassing up thread!!! RUN!!!

The degree of fire risk depends on the location of a fridge to the pump. The NEC defines the hazardous zone as 20' in a horizontal direction from a dispensing station. This the zone that gasoline vapor could potentially be ignited by ignition sources.

If your fridge happens to be near a vehicle's fuel filler being filled, you are at risk of causing a fire from the pilot light. In our case, the fridge is about 35' from the fuel filler.

The NFPA estimates that there are 20,000 RV fires annually, some of which are at gas stations. While it may not be forensically possible to determine the cause of an RV fire at a gas station, clearly an open flame and gasoline vapors are not a good mix.

JaxDad wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
Still waiting for someone to post a link to a verifiable story of an RV fridge causing a fire at a service station due to igniting fumes.

There's lots of them, it took me about 10 seconds to find this story, top of a list of them when I searched.

Clicky, Clicky.

Not many people get hit by lightning either, but I'm not going to stand in a field with a metal pole during a storm and find out.

Same one I mentioned in my original post about one person spraying gas from the nozzle on his motorhome. Not fumes

And I also said that if I had a gasser motor home with the fill tube next to the refrigerator I would shut off the fridge.

I turn ours off probably 90% of the time before fueling. I turn it back on probably 50% of the time after fueling...but then again, I'm old and forget.

mowermech wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
Still waiting for someone to post a link to a verifiable story of an RV fridge causing a fire at a service station due to igniting fumes.

There's lots of them, it took me about 10 seconds to find this story, top of a list of them when I searched.

Clicky, Clicky.

Not many people get hit by lightning either, but I'm not going to stand in a field with a metal pole during a storm and find out.

Ah, yes, THAT one!
"Binder said the latch that holds the nozzle’s handle in the closed position was already pushed into place when he prepared to pump. Fuel spilled from the nozzle when he selected his grade, pushing the nozzle free and spilling gas on his RV and the ground."

That wasn't gasoline FUMES igniting, it was gasoline LIQUID sprayed into the frig fire box that ignited!
I bet some fool thought it would be real funny to latch the nozzle open and cause a gas spill!

That's not even possible for any of the pumps I have used in Ca. I can squeeze the nozzle handle all I want but it won't open the valve because the vapor recovery system boot needs to be compressed before any fuel will flow. Been this way for over 30 years that I know of.

I haven't done this in any other state I have been in because I'm banished to the oil island when I'm on vacation. :)