Florida Driver Panic-Buys Four Cans of Gasoline, Then Hummer Bursts Into Flames

[babylonsister]

No one could see this coming.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/florida-driver-panic-buys-four-cans-of-gasoline-then-hummer-bursts-into-flames?ref=home

Florida Driver Panic-Buys Four Cans of Gasoline, Then Hummer Bursts Into Flames
CAUTIONARY TALE
Jamie Ross, News Correspondent
Updated May. 14, 2021 6:39AM ET /
Published May. 14, 2021 6:23AM ET

A driver in Florida has kindly provided the perfect cautionary tale for anyone thinking of buying up more gasoline than they need in the midst of this week’s Colonial Pipeline outage. According to WFLA, a Hummer driver’s vehicle erupted in flames on Wednesday after they filled up four canisters full of fuel. Citrus County Fire Rescue told the news outlet that firefighters who responded to the scene discovered four five-gallon containers full of gasoline in the back of the burnt-out Hummer. Fire officials reportedly said that one person was injured but, against advice, they refused to be checked out by a doctor. That wasn’t the only advice they ignored—Tampa Bay officials had told people to not panic buy fuel in the wake of the pipeline outage. Colonial Pipeline restarted operations Wednesday after an audacious ransomware attack forced it to shut down for six days.

[Bullfeathers]

1. Why would anyone

do such a ridiculous thing? I’m glad he’s alive to tell his story but he needs a slap in the face

[fescuerescue]

24. 4 cans of gas isn't really ridiculous

I mean stockpiling it is yes. And panicking yes.

But EPA/DOT approved gas cans are quite safe and designed to do this job. It's about the same amount of gas as an average car and about half of that of an average pickup truck.

Fuel is transported every day like this. Things like lawn mowers, worksites etc.

There is something more to this story.

[Effete Snob]

2. This story needs more threads

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15427473

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15425693

Unfortunately reading comprehension around this fact has not improved:

“firefighters who responded to the scene discovered four five-gallon containers full of gasoline in the back of the burnt-out Hummer”

In other words, the fire was apparently unrelated to the gasoline containers, which were found “full of gasoline”.

[marble falls]

3. Confirming that a full gas can is safer than a partially full gas can.

[Blues Heron]

4. it was the fumes

I heard he sparked up a ciggie after filling the air in his hummer with fumes.

[Effete Snob]

9. One hears lots of things on social media

People have heard things like Trump is still president too, but that doesn't make these kinds of "facts" true.

[Blues Heron]

11. whats your theory then, Snob?

think it was just a coinkydink?

[Effete Snob]

13. My theory is that the cause is under investigation

https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/hummer-destroyed-in-fire-one-person-hurt/article_b7d2ba02-b34f-11eb-a432-cb80308881fa.html

"Official cause would need to be determined and confirmed by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office."

Apparently, none of the firefighters who provided information to the media were aware of the cause. Maybe ring them up and let them know that people on an internet forum have it all figured out.

[Blues Heron]

15. That's not really a theory, Snob

[muriel_volestrangler]

38. It's more reliable than "I heard ..."

I suspect you read it, without any attribution to a reporter or witness, on social media. For instance, anonymous Reddit user links to article that doesn't mention cigarettes at all, but claims knowledge of a cigarette in their title: https://www.reddit.com/r/IdiotsInCars/comments/nbf59k/idiot_in_hummer_filled_5_gas_cans_expecting/

Remember, professional reporters are more reliable than anonymous social media users.

[Blues Heron]

39. I read it right here on the good old DU

I'm going with the cig theory until proven otherwise. What's your theory?

[muriel_volestrangler]

41. So you read it on social media, without attribution.

No, you don't have a theory. You have a suggestion.

[Blues Heron]

43. It's a theory, like it or not

I think it fits. Where is the definitive surveillance cam footage? Could have been static discharge too I suppose. Just spitballing here, don't quote me!

[Effete Snob]

44. Hummers have a bad habit of erupting in fire

https://www.autoweek.com/news/a1872976/hummer-h3-faces-recall-after-42-vehicle-fires/

42 vehicle fires spark massive Hummer H3 recall
Almost 200,000 SUVs and trucks in North America recalled for HVAC module fire risk

[fescuerescue]

51. IF the hummer was full of fumes and they ignited from a cigarette

You wouldn't recognized the wreck.

That many cubic feet of fumes would leave the frame and little else. And the boom would break nearby windows.

This looks more like a run of the mill electrical fire.

[Blues Heron]

53. sounds plausible

I wonder if those Hummers have any lithium rechargeables in any of the systems, could have been something like that.

[RegularJam]

5. From experience.

Fumes from gas cans can cause a serious fire while the can itself remain full and virtually untouched. With a proper cap on, but the vent open, fumes can ignite without the can catching.

[Effete Snob]

10. Jumped all the way to the engine compartment....

....which seems to be where the firefighting effort was concentrated:

[RegularJam]

14. "Seems to be."

Not possible to make an armchair determination with the facts at hand.

Might have been another culprit, might not have. The fireball that can erupt from the fumes, after only minutes, is extremely impressive.

I’m not saying where it started. I’m just saying that the cans being full is not a significant indicator of where it started.

Even without a cap on the cans, if the fumes ignite, you are often left with just a very small flame from the can that can be blown out easily,

[Effete Snob]

16. "Not possible to make an armchair determination"

But so many people are so certain.

The line of deductive reasoning starts, as demonstrated in this thread, with "Hummer owner". Therefore, the person is morally inferior and must also be intellectually inferior.

It could not possibly be that the person in question operates, say, a lawn care business and thus may legitimately need to transport fuel in containers approved for that purpose.

We can know so many things, if we just trust our prejudices and moral judgments.

Look at the comment below. The person lived in Florida and owned a Hummer. What more need one know?

[RegularJam]

17. Yes, you seem to be one of them.

“But so many people are so certain.”

“ The line of deductive reasoning starts, as demonstrated in this thread, with "Hummer owner". Therefore, the person is morally inferior and must also be intellectually inferior.”

I have not mentioned the type of vehicle and don’t know what it has to do with the theory you outlined(one that might be perfectly accurate).

“ It could not possibly be that the person in question operates, say, a lawn care business and thus may legitimately need to transport fuel in containers approved for that purpose.”

No clue. Pretty poor decision to buy a highly inefficient and unreliable vehicle like that for your business. But that is an insignificant point as I believe you made it up. You did bolster the point that the person might be challenged intellectually.

“ We can know so many things, if we just trust our prejudices and moral judgments.”

Yes, human nature lends itself toward stereotyping and confirmation of prejudices. Nothing new there and it’s around to stay.

[GemDigger]

23. Blowing on it is not a good idea.

The air you blow into it will backfire. I know from youthful experience, lost my eyebrows and half my hair. Thankfully, I was wearing my glasses and only lost a few eyelashes but my eyes were saved.

[fescuerescue]

52. And the rear still has paint on

This looks like an engine fire.

Or at least the engine compartment as the source.

[cinematicdiversions]

42. Just because everything about the story is untrue

Doesn't mean we can't keep posting it.

[Treefrog]

46. Lol, so true.

People keep buying this story wholesale.

[RicROC]

6. what kind of job does someone get.....

that pays so well to be able to buy a Hummer and yet require such little intelligence/ common sense?

[Effete Snob]

8. Transporting gasoline in approved containers for that purpose?

With the front quarter panel and hood removed, and the foam residue toward the front, why was so much firefighting effort and damage apparently directed toward the front of the vehicle?

[RegularJam]

20. That is not an approved method for transporting gas in these containers.

Period.

[fescuerescue]

25. What isn't approved?

Those are DOT approved containers.

They are used everyday to transport fuel to lawn mowers, boats, work sites etc.

[RegularJam]

27. I'm hoping you aren't being serious.

Truly.

[fescuerescue]

28. what do you think a 5 gallon gas can is used for?

And how do you imagine it ever gets to the home of a lawn mower?

Just curious.

You do know that that there are DOT and EPA approved don't you?

truly.

[fescuerescue]

30. Here's some lite reading

https://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/trucks/pickups/article/15045189/fuel-can-safety

[RegularJam]

31. It states right on the cans to not transport them in an enclosed vehicle.

A warning sticker shouldn't be necessary.

[fescuerescue]

37. That's true but it's done everyday

Not everyone has a pickup truck.

But most people have lawns.

Plus how often do we rant about people driving pickup trucks, that don't need them?

Best way to mitigate the risk of fumes is to open a window or leave the trunk open.

[Effete Snob]

47. Especially vehicles with a known propensity to catch fire

https://www.autoweek.com/news/a1872976/hummer-h3-faces-recall-after-42-vehicle-fires/

42 vehicle fires spark massive Hummer H3 recall

Almost 200,000 SUVs and trucks in North America recalled for HVAC module fire risk

[fescuerescue]

29. Those hummers are cheap now

the last one was made over 12 years ago.

I bet it's less than $3,000

[RegularJam]

32. There is nothing cheap about a hummer.

From their unreliable engines and drive trains to fuel costs. They are a high maintenance and consumption vehicle.

[fescuerescue]

35. Yea but you know what I mean

Old cars are expensive to maintain

A $1,000 car is expensive. But if you are poor, that's all you can afford.

[RegularJam]

48. They were expensive to maintain new.

More expensive as they age.

If a “poor” person buys a hummer because it’s $1000.... Dear sweet baby Jesus. We should talk to them about why they just bought such an expensive vehicle.

[fescuerescue]

49. Honestly it's ONLY the poor buying $1000 - $2000 used hummers

The wealthy aren't buying beat down wrecks.

They are buying new...whatever the latest craze it...at $50 to $100k a pop.

[Effete Snob]

45. And they catch fire a lot

https://www.autoweek.com/news/a1872976/hummer-h3-faces-recall-after-42-vehicle-fires/

42 vehicle fires spark massive Hummer H3 recall
Almost 200,000 SUVs and trucks in North America recalled for HVAC module fire risk

[C_U_L8R]

7. Floridaman. Hummer owner. Say no more.

Self-inflicted destruction ensues.

[jimfields33]

18. Could own a lawn service

There are numerous around here.

[RegularJam]

21. Under your assumption they are highly irresponsible business owners.

Not just for using a highly inefficient and unreliable vehicle, but for not know safe gas transportation recommendations.

These containers were not meant to be transported like this. They have warning labels stating so. Information is widely available stating such.

[jimfields33]

22. You are right.

Hopefully lessons learned and others won’t do the same.

[Aristus]

26. Dipshit wanted the closest he could get to a street-legal tank.

If he had actually served as a tanker, as I did, he would have known to be a little more careful.

When I was in tanker school, we had an entire afternoon of safety briefings before we were even allowed to set foot on a tank. We were told about all the gruesome ways the tank could kill us even accidentally, if we didn't observe all proper safety protocols.

I can't say I feel sorry for this human-shaped piece of sewage. He could have hurt someone else instead of himself and his stupid wannabe tank.

[LastDemocratInSC]

12. Here's a similar story.

Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop on a car with a stolen license plate. The car evades the deputy but wrecks and then explodes due to multiple gas containers in the car.

https://www.wyff4.com/article/woman-hoarding-gas-catches-on-fire-following-car-accident-in-pickens-county-deputies-say/36424705

[Wicked Blue]

19. Car Erupts in Flames When Driver Uses Hand Sanitizer While Smoking a Cigarette - in Maryland

NBC4 DC



By Hector Garcia

A car exploded into flames Thursday evening in Maryland when a driver used hand sanitizer while smoking a cigarette, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

The fire started about 5:30 p.m. at the Federal Plaza Shopping Center. (note: I shop there often)

The driver used hand sanitizer while smoking a cigarette, which a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman said is a bad combination in an unventilated area like a car.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue treated and transported one adult with minor burns and non-life threatening injuries.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/car-explodes-into-flames-as-driver-uses-hand-sanitizer-while-smoking-a-cigarette/2671728/

Car was totaled.

[kcr]

33. After careful analysis of the burn patterns in this picture

I can safely say that fire was actually caused by ball lightning. Note the shape of the scorched area on the trunk. Clearly, this is the origin of the fire, and it is in the shape of a ball. It is not shaped like a bottle of hand sanitizer, which is a liquid and isn't flammable. People keep bottles of hand sanitizer in their car all of the time, and it is perfectly legal. A cigarette couldn't have started this. #DUscience

[Wicked Blue]

40. Jewish space lasers? nt

[kcr]

54. Sharks shooting ball lightning n/t

[womanofthehills]

34. When carting one can of gasoline in my vehicle with all the windows open

I can barely stand the fumes

[lindysalsagal]

36. Sorry, Florida. You were due.

Couple other states were wearing the duncecap lately, but it's back to you, again.

[Mr. Ected]

50. To be fair, it might take all that stored gasoline to get the Hummer back home

Not necessarily known for its gas mileage prowess.

[Initech]

55. Inflammable means flammable??? What a country!

[kcr]

56. Anyone got any theories on what caused the fire here?

I'd hate to speculate.

https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/state/south-carolina/article251409553.html#storylink=cpy

Driver catches fire after hoarded gas in vehicle explodes during chase, SC cops say