# Women more likely to catch fire while pumping gas/petrol? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556 "2003-01-23T22:58:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/1 "2003-01-23T22:58:37Z")
I just got a very bizarre email from my Dad that has been distributed to all the doctors in the company he works for. This email states that women are more likely to catch fire while pumping gas/petrol. > [@](#): > > In case you thought it was a silly claim about using the cell phone while pumping gas The Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a result of “static” (that is, static electricity) at gas pumps. They have researched 150 cases of these fires. The results were very surprising: Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women. The reason for this is as follows: > [@](#): > > Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas. When finished, they went back to pull the nozzle out. The fire started then as a result of static discharge. Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires. This sounds very strange, I can’t understand why anyone would WANT to get back into a car while pumping gas/petrol. Further info in the email seemed to indicated that it women are more likely to wear high static clothing than men and less likely to wear rubber soled shoes. So whats the straight dope - is this for real? ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/2 "2003-01-23T23:04:08Z")
Well, here’s what [snopes.com](http://snopes.com) [has to say about it](http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.asp). According to this site, the basic idea is true, but some of the details aren’t totally accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/3 "2003-01-23T23:04:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by leechbabe \* > This sounds very strange, I can’t understand why anyone would WANT to get back into a car while pumping gas/petrol. In my neighborhood, today’s high temp was around 5 F, about -12 or -15 C. With a 40 mph wind. Does that explain anything? IT’S COLD!!! That said - papa always taught me never to leave the gas nozzle unattended. If you’re foolish enough not to dress for the weather go to a full serve station. I’d think it odd that the stats are so strongly skewed… sounds like urban legend at least to some degree to me. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/4 "2003-01-23T23:05:07Z")
I seriously doubt it. I work at a Stop-N-Rob and people get in their cars while allowing the pump to fill up their tank (Why? Because it’s _cold_ outside!) and I’ve yet to see anyone explode. ---
**Author:** ![Skeptico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Skeptico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeptico)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/5 "2003-01-23T23:10:26Z")
I’ve read news reports on [cnn.com](http://cnn.com) last year when a woman in Texas caught on fire doing just that. If you live in the US, you might have noticed that most gas pumps now have little warning labels advising you NOT to get back in your car while pumping gas. According to the cnn articles, most incidents happen in winter when it’s coooooolllddd… hence, the tendency for the \*wimin[/i ] to get back in the car. ---
**Author:** ![stypticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@stypticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stypticus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/6 "2003-01-23T23:32:58Z")
All the pumps I’ve seen of late have had the retention clip removed so that it’s impossible to pump unattended. The gas stations had a sign up for a while saying they’d done it to reduce the incidence of overflow and spilling. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/7 "2003-01-23T23:45:31Z")
Here in NY state there’s signs saying its illegal to wedge your gascap in the handle to keep it going. I’m thankful for the signs because I never would have though to do it otherwise!! 😉 No way I’m not getting back in my car when its freakin’ 9°F out! Its gasoline, not nitroglycerin! ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/8 "2003-01-24T00:06:37Z")
Interesting info there - thanks for taking the time to respond. I’m glad I don’t live in a cold climate. Still if your freezing I can understand the desire to keep warm, and how better than with a nice toasty car fire 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/9 "2003-01-24T00:09:21Z")
_Full service_ stations?! I haven’t seen one of them for almost a decade, except when I went to Oregon and was shocked to be told I wasn’t allowed to pump my own gas. Where on earth do they still have these relics of a bygone era? And you damn betcha I’m getting back in my car. It’s cold out there! Plus, sometimes unsavory persons show up and you feel uncomfortable standing outside. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/10 "2003-01-24T00:16:22Z")
It is illegal in my home state of New Jersey to pump your own gas. ALL gas stations here are full service. “Full service” apparently being pumping the gas, and looking rather puzzled at any other requests, such as checking the oil or tire pressure. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/11 "2003-01-24T00:39:43Z")
Lordy Lordy, how long does it take you to fill a gas tank? Three minutes? When handling explosive, flammable liquid that can maim and kill you, play it safe. Don’t leave it unattended even if it means you’ll be cold for three minutes. Screwing around with gasoline is a good way to spend more time in your local burn ward. ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/12 "2003-01-24T00:44:52Z")
It’s a New York State winter, and there’s no latch on the gas handle? You have to hold the cold metal with your hand the whole time? Someone is nuts. Snopes says there are 16 billion gas-pumpings into cars a year, and the causes of fires are static, open flames, and leaving your motor running. And areas that have the hoses suck up the vapors are pretty much proof against vapor fires. And, the real study does NOT say that most of those involved are women. But, if you have to hold that freezing handle in the freezing wind while pumping…well maybe I’ll get my SO to pump my gas in those areas. …I wonder if it was a woman that originated that warning e-mail. A sneaky one. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/13 "2003-01-24T01:07:15Z")
Whatever happened to wearing a coat while pumping gas in the winter? Surely you can survive a cold face and hands for three minutes. Or keep yourself warm by checking the oil… it’s nice and warm under the hood. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/14 "2003-01-24T15:46:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MaryEFoo \* > **It’s a New York State winter, and there’s no latch on the gas handle? You have to hold the cold metal with your hand the whole time? Someone is nuts.** Us poor suffering fools up here tend to wear gloves in the winter. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/15 "2003-01-24T15:54:50Z")
Gosh - here, you can’t even fill up your own car if you want to. In summer especially, people don’t even switch their engine off so they can keep the AC going. They just open the driver window a tiny tiny chink to tell the guy how much petrol they want, and what sort, then close it up. Reopen it to slip the money through, and begone! ---
**Author:** ![TheLadyLion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d78d45/32.png) [@TheLadyLion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLadyLion)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/16 "2003-01-24T16:10:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monstre \* > \*\*Well, here’s what [snopes.com](http://snopes.com) [has to say about it](http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.asp). According to this site, the basic idea is true, but some of the details aren’t totally accurate. \*\* **SOME** of the details? After reading the SNOPES take on the information, looks like the great majority of the “details” in the report cited in the OP have been skewed or blatently fabricated. The gender of the person was never taken into account, the type of footwear the person was wearing was seldom questioned, whether or not the person got back into his or her car barely made a difference in the number of cases resulting in fire, and cell phones were clearly stated to NOT be a factor in the actual study. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-more-likely-to-catch-fire-while-pumping-gas-petrol/150556/17 "2003-01-24T16:15:32Z")
It’s probably a misread of the statistic. _Of women who caught fire while attending to gasoline, the majority of them did so while pumping it._ or _Of women who caught fire while pumping, …_ Naaah…