Static
Electricity Gas Fire Burns a Young Man in Texas
by Jennifer L. Hazen
Sept. 29, 2002
This
fire was first reported by Heath Hixson of the Courier in Houston:
Austin
Cochrum was filling up his truck, on September 9, at a local gas station when
he walked over to a friend who was also filling up his truck. Mr. Cochrum placed
his left hand on his friend's truck. He had his fabric covered wallet in this
hand and it must have insulated him from the truck. He then touched the truck,
with his right hand, about 12 inches from the gas tank. A spark jumped to the
truck igniting the gasoline vapors near the fuel port. Reportedly Mr. Cochrum
rubbed his wallet across the friends truck seat (also fabric) before he sparked
to the truck body.
As
soon as Mr. Cochrum saw the FLASH he turned to run. His left hand, arm and torso
caught on fire.
He received second-degree burns to his left arm, left hand and side. The fire
burned through two shirts.
Mr. Cochrum was quoted by Mr. Hixson as saying:
"You see a lot of movies with explosions. I was just thinking about getting
out of there," Cochrum said. " I didn't really have time to think about
it . I just took off."
Cochrum spent six days in a Houston burn unit for treatment. He should recover
from the burns in time. He was lucky.
Mr.
Hixson also quoted Cochrum as saying: "I think I was more shocked about being
on fire more than anything," He
stated that static electricity would be on his mind while refueling his vehicle
in the future.
"I'll
touch my truck before I fill up," Cochrum said. "I will definitely be
aware of it now. ... It will cause me to be in less of a hurry."
The
Fire Marshall's office ruled the accident was the result of static electricity,
created by Cochrum, and reacting with gas vapors from the vehicle's gas tank.
They theorized the reaction came after Cochrum rubbed his fabric wallet on his
friend's fabric seat cover, which made the static charge, then when he touched
the outside of the truck - BOOM!
While
this type of fire is rare, it happens all too often. We believe it may occur as
many as 500 - 1000 times per year in the USA. The reports of these fires are very
local events. This is why we encourage anyone who hears of this type fire to report
it to our magazine. We will publish every report we receive.
