Can Talking on a Cell Phone Cause a Fire at the Gas Station?

The Short Version:    In theory, maybe, but probably not.

As The Gator previously investigated static electricity can ignite gas vapors while refueling, hence the warnings at gas stations against reentering your vehicle while refueling.  The other common warning is against cell phone use, but is that a real danger?

The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI), who has been collecting data on gas station fires for more than a decade, notes that "So far, we have been unable to document any incidents that were sparked by a cellular telephone. In fact, many researchers have tried to ignite fuel vapors with a cell phone and failed."  In 2003, and again in 2004, the popular Discovery Channel show MythBusters investigated this myth and both times were unable to create a fire from a cell phone.

One car fire was originally attributed to a cell phone in 2004, but after a thorough investigation, the assistant fire chief ruled out the cell phone as a possible cause.  Other such internet reports of cell phone caused fires tend to lack the details needed to verify their credibility.

So, while it is technically possible for a cell phone to maybe cause a spark that could under the perfect circumstances ignite gasoline vapors, the odds of this happening are very remote.


*Photo by Anna Cervova