Yes, the data I looked at suggested that though gas tank fires are
rare they often occur when someone gets into thier car mid fill (like
this lady did - the nozel is already in the tank), charges themselves
up staticly on the seats, and then discharges when they touch the
nozel.

Chris

On 12/6/05, Doug F <vanagon@astound.net> wrote:
> Robert,
> Great vid,
> Looks like she had a build up of static electricity from the
> upholstory of her car or touching her sweater just before handling the pump.
> Her shoes were likely the type to keep the "charge" on her body without
> grounding her.
> Right up to the exact moment she touched the grounded fuel nozzle and wham!
> The spark at the metal nozzle was around the fumes and thats all it took.
>
> Its possible if she touched her car metal first she could have discharged
> the static into the car body
> where it would dissipate.
>
> Many times of the year when I exit my Vanagon after sliding out of the seat
> I reach out for the outside handle to close the door
> and wham! I get a pretty good jolt.
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Fisher" <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 9:32 PM
> Subject: Re: Transporting extra gasoline on/in a Westy Vanagon
>
>
> > Perhaps we should all be required to pump gas naked....
> >
> > http://www.flurl.com/uploaded/Gastank_Fire_3202.html
> >
> > Cya,
> > Robert
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jeffrey Schwaia" <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 5:02 PM
> > Subject: Re: Transporting extra gasoline on/in a Westy Vanagon
> >
> >
> > > Chris,
> > >
> > > Can you explain this one a little more?  I've never seen that warning
> (but
> > > I'll look tonight when I fill up).
> > >
> > > A car is not grounded when you fill it with fuel, so what difference
> does
> > > it
> > > make if you're filling a plastic container that is on the car?
> > >
> > > What about a plastic container on the ground?
> > >
> > > What about when you fill the plastic tank on a boat?
> > >
> > > That being said... whenever I fill a plane at the airport, I'm required
> to
> > > attach a grounding cable to the plane prior to filling.
> > >
> > > Just curious...
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > > Jeff
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> > > Of Christopher Gronski
> > > Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 4:16 PM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Transporting extra gasoline on/in a Westy Vanagon
> > >
> > >
> > > Filling with the tank not grounded (ie: on the roof) is a really good
> > > way to have the tank EXPLODE AND KILL YOU and any other bystanders due
> > > to static discharge. They put warnings on gas pumps for a reason. DO
> > > NOT FILL TANKS ON YOUR ROOF YOU ARE RISKING YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF
> > > THOISE AROUND YOU.
> > >
> > > Chris
> > >
> > > On 12/5/05, Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@comcast.net> wrote:
> > >> My extra gas is stored in 2.5 gallon plastic containers, one is OK for
> > >> most trips, two for way off the beaten path. One Vanagon owner I met
> > >> had a great setup which I am considering: he bought a plastic 6 gallon
> > >> gas tank for an outboard boat motor and cut off the fitting that
> > >> attaches to the motor. When you want to fill up the Vanagon tank, just
> > >> uncoil the hose and stick it in the filler! No need to remove from
> > >> roof.
> > >>
> > >> Keith O
> > >> 84 Westy
> > >> 90 Westy Syncro
> > >>
> > >> On Dec 5, 2005, at 9:01 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > Date:    Sun, 4 Dec 2005 22:01:10 -0700
> > >> > From:    Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
> > >> > Subject: Re: Transporting extra gasoline on/in a Westy Vanagon
> > >> >
> > >> > "So, I'm tyring to come up with a
> > >> > safe and easy-to-implement solution."
> > >> >
> > >> > I carry the 5 gal. Wedco shown in Gary Lee's web pic link you posted,
> > >> > in my
> > >> > luggage rack, tied down.
> > >> > Bob Stevens
> > >> > '87 Westy Syncro
> > >> > "Passion Fruit"
> > >>
>