# Celebrate Fire Prevention Week by pouring gasoline into a toilet-it's a blast **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167 "2004-10-08T07:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/1 "2004-10-08T07:03:14Z")
Another potential Darwin award winner has unfortunately survived, and will no doubt breed more dimwits like himself. OK, fellow dopers-here’s a test. Your car is leaking gasoline. Do you: A) Call the fire department and keep people with cigarettes away B) Light it off-that’s why you have insurance C) Log onto SDMB and start a thread about the leak D) Collect the spilled fuel and dump it in the crapper [This simpleton chose D.](http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2423215) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/2 "2004-10-08T07:11:47Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Another potential Darwin award winner has unfortunately survived, and will no doubt breed more dimwits like himself. > > OK, fellow dopers-here’s a test. Your car is leaking gasoline. Do you: > > A) Call the fire department and keep people with cigarettes away > B) Light it off-that’s why you have insurance > C) Log onto SDMB and start a thread about the leak > D) Collect the spilled fuel and dump it in the crapper > > [This simpleton chose D.](http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2423215) :smack: Call the fire department? “Hello, fire department?” “Yes?” “I collected a jar of gasoline that leaked out of my car. Could you come pick it up, please?” “Sir, we need to keep this line open for _important_ calls.” ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/3 "2004-10-08T07:11:58Z")
Amazing. He realized it would be unsuitable to dispose of it doen a storm drain, so instead _he pours it down the loo in his own home_ that takes a special kind of stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/4 "2004-10-08T09:33:58Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Call the fire department? > > “Hello, fire department?” > > “Yes?” > > “I collected a jar of gasoline that leaked out of my car. Could you come pick it up, please?” > > “Sir, we need to keep this line open for _important_ calls.” If the doofus had left the gasoline puddled on the driveway, they probably would have responded; hazmat, dontcha know. I’ve dispatched our fire guys for similar situations. Still, once he’d collected it, he should have called the fire department to find out the best way to dispose of it. I’m pretty sure they’d have advised against pouring it in the crapper. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/5 "2004-10-08T09:58:45Z")
Out of interest, what _is_ the advised disposal method? Pour it into someone else’s tank like a reverse syphon-thief? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/6 "2004-10-08T10:37:48Z")
But… but… but… It’s my _hobby_! Robin ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/7 "2004-10-08T10:42:24Z")
Sometimes my shits feel like flaming gasoline but… oh well, TMI. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/8 "2004-10-08T12:08:34Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Out of interest, what _is_ the advised disposal method? Pour it into someone else’s tank like a reverse syphon-thief? I haven’t the foggiest idea. I mean, if he’d left it on the ground they’d have dumped some Oil Dry on it to soak it up, but once he bottled it? Beats me. I guess if there wasn’t a bunch of pebbles or debris in it he maybe could have used it in his lawnmower or something, instead of madly engaging in Xtreme Plumbing, the :wally . ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/9 "2004-10-08T12:16:47Z")
I guess if he didn’t have a stopper for the bottle he’d have to use a rag or something. That would look rather suspicious if he left it on a shelf in the garage! I suspect there would be a special tank at the municipal dump or something. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/10 "2004-10-08T12:18:42Z")
He should have poured it into the lawn mower gas tank. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/11 "2004-10-08T12:39:59Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > He should have poured it into the lawn mower gas tank. Seriously. We had a one gallon gas can that we used to fill the lawn mower with, couldn’t he have done something similar? Anyway, I’m sure the local service station would know how to dispose of it since they usually do it for used motor oil. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/12 "2004-10-08T12:43:13Z")
I’m reminded of the guy who decided to kill a pesky groundhog by pouring gasoline down its burrow, then igniting it. Problem is, flames leap toward where there’s the most oxygen, which was at the entrance to the burrow where the guy was standing, and… ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/13 "2004-10-08T12:52:39Z")
[Let me show you something! _kaboom!_](http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/academy/6067/fire.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/14 "2004-10-08T14:17:29Z")
Ooo! Ooo! I know the answer! E: pour it on a [burning bale of hay](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279771). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/15 "2004-10-08T16:54:10Z")
> [@Frank #2](#): > > Ooo! Ooo! I know the answer! > > E: pour it on a [burning bale of hay](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279771). 😃 Note to self-when greeting Frank #2 at next dopefest, slap him. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/16 "2004-10-08T17:20:10Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > He should have poured it into the lawn mower gas tank. Article says he lives in a townhome, so likely the association mows the lawn, so he’d have no need for a mower. That’s how mine works, at least. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/17 "2004-10-08T20:42:38Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > If the doofus had left the gasoline puddled on the driveway, they probably would have responded; hazmat, dontcha know. Yeah, but he _didn’t_ leave it puddled on the driveway. You aren’t suggesting he _should_ have, are you? > [@](#): > > I’ve dispatched our fire guys for similar situations. Still, once he’d collected it, he should have called the fire department to find out the best way to dispose of it. I’m pretty sure they’d have advised against pouring it in the crapper. Why should he call the fire department? Wouldn’t it make more sense to take it to a hazardous waste collection center? [http://www.slcgov.com/environment/hhwaste.htm](http://www.slcgov.com/environment/hhwaste.htm) Well OF COURSE you don’t flush it down the toilet. Put it in a jar or can and take it to the hazardous waste pickup. Christ, I don’t call the fucking fire department to come get my used brake fluid and motor oil. They’ve got better things to do than make house calls to pick up household waste. That’s a health department issue. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/18 "2004-10-08T20:57:38Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Wouldn’t it make more sense to take it to a hazardous waste collection center? > [http://www.slcgov.com/environment/hhwaste.htm](http://www.slcgov.com/environment/hhwaste.htm) Only if you have a safe way to transport it. At least the Fire Dept would be able to advise him as to the safest way to store and dispose of it legally. He had the stuff in an open oil collection container, that’s thoroughly unsafe and he may not have had any safe alternative available. As long as he’s not tying up a 911 line, I don’t see the harm in calling the fire dept, it’s not like they’re fighting fires 24/7. Part of their job is to help with things like this so they don’t turn into fire hazards. This happened precisely because he wasn’t equipped to handle the situation, and refused to call the experts for advice. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/19 "2004-10-08T21:08:54Z")
Well that might be _one_ solution, but IMO not the _best_ solution. The OP suggests that this guy is stupid, and gives a multiple-choice test for what a _smart_ person ostensibly would do. But the correct answer does not appear on the list. The _smartest_ thing to do would be: E) Collect the gasoline in a suitable container. Take the gasoline to the hazardous waste collection center. If you do not have a suitable container, purchase or borrow one. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167/20 "2004-10-08T21:36:17Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > E) Collect the gasoline in a suitable container. Take the gasoline to the hazardous waste collection center. If you do not have a suitable container, purchase or borrow one. F) Put the pan in the middle of a field and shoot at it with flaming arrows. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrate-fire-prevention-week-by-pouring-gasoline-into-a-toilet-its-a-blast/268167.md?page=2)