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• Propane safety
• Service station safety
• Service station safety tips

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Service station safety

Turn off your vehicle's engine when refueling.   Keep gasoline and other fuels out of children's sight and reach. Gasoline is highly toxic in addition to being a fire hazard. NEVER allow a child to pump gas. Don't smoke, light matches or use lighters while refueling.   See all safety tips

Since 1980, the number of vehicle fires at service stations has more than doubled, partly because of the increase in the number of vehicles on the road, while structure fires and other fires decreased by 10 percent. Starting in the late 1990s, NFPA and other organizations have received isolated reports of flash fires, apparently caused by static electricity, while patrons were pumping gasoline. 

Facts & figures

• An estimated 7,400 fires and explosions occurred at public service stations per year from 1994 through 1998. That means that, on average, one in every 13 service stations experienced a fire. These 7,400 fires caused an annual average of two civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $18 million in property damage.
• Of those 7,400 fires, nearly two-thirds (4,620) involved vehicles. Vehicle fires led to an annual average of one civilian death, 37 civilian injuries and $7.7 million in property damage.
• Mechanical or electrical problems caused three out of four vehicle fires at public service stations.

Source: NFPA's Special Data Information Package: Fires in or at Service Stations and Motor Vehicle Repair and Paint Shops, April 2002

• NFPA members:  Download tis report. (PDF, 226 KB)
• All visitors: Order this report .

NFPA does not test, label or approve any products.
Updated: 9/07