My Response

[LoBo]

there is a better chance of starting a fire at the pump with static electricity then vaping or smoking (except lighting a cig...open flames are a sure thing) so make sure you ground yourself before pumping

[leaford]

And don't use your cell phone. Not because using the cell itself is a risk, but taking it out of your pocket can generate static.

[Jim Davis]

there is a better chance of starting a fire at the pump with static electricity then vaping or smoking (except lighting a cig...open flames are a sure thing) so make sure you ground yourself before pumping

So....you don't think that an arc from a faulty e-cig battery or switch can't cause a fire or explosion? If a person can't wait a few minutes, they have more serious issues.

There have been at least 5 threads started on this subject in the past few months. Anyone lacking the common sense to refrain from vaping in an explosive environment is endangering the lives of others. Plain & simple.

It may not happen tomorrow, or next week, but eventually, it *will* happen.

[$igmund]

So....you don't think that an arc from a faulty e-cig battery or switch can't cause a fire or explosion?

I suppose it could... provided that the gasoline fumes somehow managed to find a way into the sealed electronics of the PV, along with enough oxygen to support combustion.

let me know how you make out with that.

If a person can't wait a few minutes, they have more serious issues.

It wasn't really a question of waiting a few minutes. I keep my 306 tucked into my hat, grabbed it and took a drag as sort of a reflex while standing there doing nothing.

There have been at least 5 threads started on this subject...

I actually meant to post this in one of those other threads, so my apologies to Shannon for the inadvertent thread-jacking.

[cliff5550]

Back to ShannonS' original post....very good response.
What I've found that nearly always works when I'm asked if I'm "really smoking in here" is "It's o.k., there's no tobacco in it." The general public seems to accept that no tobacco means no harm. I agree.

[Dredbull]

And don't use your cell phone. Not because using the cell itself is a risk, but taking it out of your pocket can generate static.

Sorry Leaford, not correct the static discharge is not the static but the arcing of the cellphone battery.

Man the horrors of Li-Ion I see everyday from people being clueless with cellphones. Water,urine, tobacco, lint etc. getting the phone soaked and plugging it in. MY GOD there are future darwin award winners there. Most phones are not in the best of shape due to age and neglect, let alone heavy use.

[martha1014]

Can't wait a few minutes to vape what about the cell phone and text messaging. Everybody from the rich to the poor have one attached to their face. I guess I don't have enough friend but I don't have enough to say to be on the phone that much. Even my 8 year old grandson got a black berry for his birthday. They said it was so he can keep in touch with his mother when he is out playing.I got him an Ipod for his last birthday. My son was gifted so I am sure he is also. I just think it is radiculous for a child of this age getting a cell phone.

When I was young nobody even had cell phones. The first one I got was hugh. So they got the phone smaller over time I think maybe the ecig will get better over time.

[leaford]

Sorry Leaford, not correct the static discharge is not the static but the arcing of the cellphone battery.

Man the horrors of Li-Ion I see everyday from people being clueless with cellphones. Water,urine, tobacco, lint etc. getting the phone soaked and plugging it in. MY GOD there are future darwin award winners there. Most phones are not in the best of shape due to age and neglect, let alone heavy use.

Mythbusters tested it out, and weren't able to get a cell phone to start a gas fire even with a super-enriched fuel/air mixture. They had to resort to an electrical spark generator, which put out a spark more like that from a static discharge (like you might get by touching the car after putting your hands into and out of your pocket).

MythBusters Episode 2: Cell Phone Destruction, Silicone Breasts, CD-ROM Shattering
"Using one’s cell phone while pumping gas/petrol can cause an explosion.
busted
A properly-working cell phone poses almost no danger of igniting gasoline, even when surrounded by gasoline vapor with the optimum fuel-air mix for ignition. The actual risk comes from an electrostatic discharge between a charged driver and the car, often a result of continually getting into and out of the vehicle.
(This myth was revisited in episode 14 and it was busted again.)"

Snopes.com also looked into it and were unable to find any documented incidents of cell phones starting gas station fires.
snopes.com: Cell Phone Use at Gas Pump
They note that although news reports routinely connect gas station fires to cell phone use whenever one was being used at the time, later investigation has always revealed another source of ignition, and thus, that the cell phone use was a coincidence, rather than the cause.

And of course, cell phone associations, consumer safety groups, and so on have also tested it and found the theory implausible, but Snopes and Mythbusters are much more entertaining sources, so I'll stick with them for this one.

[$igmund]

Sorry Leaford, not correct the static discharge is not the static but the arcing of the cellphone battery.

Man the horrors of Li-Ion I see everyday from people being clueless with cellphones. Water,urine, tobacco, lint etc. getting the phone soaked and plugging it in. MY GOD there are future darwin award winners there. Most phones are not in the best of shape due to age and neglect, let alone heavy use.

Any gas pump fires reported to be started by a cell phone were later determined to be caused by static electricity. The static that causes the fires is usually generated while getting out of the vehicle, then not being grounded. While you are holding the nozzle, the charge will travel from your hand, through the nozzle, then arc to the metal on the car - causing the fire.

Occasionally, a person will leave the pump to answer the phone that was left in the car. It is at this point that the static is generated - while reaching into the car to get the phone - giving the appearance that the phone caused the fire. Full investigations will show that it was a static discharge through the nozzle that was the ignition source.

I have 13 years in the fire service and currently work as a 911 dispatcher. I keep somewhat in tune with fire-related information. leaford is correct, though, that mythbusters is more entertaining - I'll stick with them too.

[Jim Davis]

Well Guys, Ive seen all the debunking, and reports, and I respect all your experience, and education on the matter.

I've been an Engineer for the past 40 years, and I've seen a *lot* of weird things, and "freak" accidents.

Wether anyone thinks it's OK or not to use an electronic device in that type of environment, I'll still condemn the practice. It's totally unnecessary. Vape later. If you can't wait a few minutes, you have issues.

I still strongly believe someone will have an accident. I'm just waiting to see who it is, and who else they hurt or kill. Theories are a dime a dozen, but only time will tell.