ATTENTION ALL CAMPERSYOUR CAMPSTOVE MAY BE A DEATH TRAP !I'm writing this because my camp stove recently exploded, luckily I had my back towards it at the time it blew and I only received some flesh wounds and minor burns. But if it would have blown in my face I would surely have gone blind. If you are a camper you need to know what the campstove manufacturers are not telling you. Every year a large number of people are killed or injured by gas or liquid fuel campstoves. Some accidents are due to human error and some are due to equipment failure. Equipment failure accidents are becoming an increasing danger as manufacturers compete to make stoves that are lighter than the competitions. There are two ways to make a camp stove lighter, one is to use new and lighter materials and the other is to reduce safety factors. The well known brands are doing both. It's a viscious circle, either they make a safe stove but nobody will buy it because it's too heavy and they go out of business. Or they cut some corners and make a stove that they know will kill a few people but is light enough to sell. A nozzle that is exposed to a temperature of 800 degrees F used to be made to withstand a much higher temperature of for example 1500 degrees F just to be sure. But by making the nozzle good up to only 900 degrees F you can save on the weight of the stove. But what happens when the temperature rises to 900 degrees F ? The nozzle melts and fuel exits without any control resulting in an explosion killing and injuring people. If you value life and limb you should do what I
did and buy a wood burning camp stove. Here are some links to wood
burning campstoves of different sizes and price ranges:
I did a quick browse through the web, below are a few news stories, warnings, and accounts of accidents involving gas or liquid fuel camp stoves I found. Several items are on display in the Troop 204 Cabin. One is an exploded backpacking stove; It's explosion probably related to a number of factors (over pumping, a faulty pressure release valve, and using a pot that was so large that heat wasn't able to dissipate properly). The stove demontratates the power and potential for problems when using a stove and serves as a reminder to Scouts of why it is that ONLY trained, authorized persons are allowed to light camp stoves. Scout Troop 204
SOLDIER DIES AFTER BURNER EXPLOSION INJURIES The incident during which Wilson was injured occurred when several kitchen burners on a stove in the camp's dining facility accidentally exploded, causing the facility to catch fire. The fire was contained by Bosnian and military firefighters from Lukavac and the U.S. military headquarters at Tuzla. Wilson, a cook, was assigned to the 92nd Military Police Company. Following the incident, he was medically evacuated to Germany and then to Brooke Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Wilson was assigned to a medical holding company there and was retired from the Army prior to his death. Wilson, 35, was from Farnhamville, Iowa. United States Department of Defense News Release
Our Coleman stove sprung a leak and a stream of fire burned down part of our screen tent. Tom pushed it into the middle of the campsite where it promptly exploded. Camping Trials and Tribulations
THREE boys suffered serious burns when a gas camp stove exploded at a caravan park in Queensland. The boys, aged 12, nine and five, turned on the gas, but did not try to light the stove until a few minutes later, police said today. The gas build up caused a small explosion, burning the boys on their arms, legs and heads. The accident happened at Gunadoo Caravan Park in Longreach about 7.30pm (AEST) last night. The nine-year-old boy was flown to Rockhampton Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service with serious burns, and the other two were admitted to Longreach Hospital. The 12 and five-year-old boys are believed to be brothers. AAP
Fire kills man A man was burnt to death at the Pongweni squatter camp in Fort Grey on Saturday. Police spokesman Superintendent Eddie Watson and Kalroad Willie, 50, had been in his tent when a liquid fuel stove fell over, setting it alight. Foul play is not suspected. Eastern Province Herald
If you're using a gas or liquid fuel camp stove or lantern, follow the manufacturer's directions. Make sure all connections are tight to avoid leaks. Never check for a gas leak with a lighted match. Instead, put a little soapy water on the connections. If the mixture bubbles, gas is seeping out. Don't try to use the appliance again until it's been checked by a professional. When using a camp stove or gas lantern, always fill it before each use. Do not refuel a hot stove or lantern. Wait until it cools off. Use a funnel to fill the appliances and wipe up all fuel spills before attempting to light it again. City of Pasadena Fire Department
A few years ago, during a Chief Scouts Challenge hike along Hadrians Wall in Northumberland, England, we had an unfortunte inncident, when one of lesser experienced of us changed a Camping Gaz cylinder next to another stove. The explosion threw him back into the tent, and inginited the tent fabric! The fabric melted like plastic, and only missed him by a few inches! He was only slightly injured (though he had to go to hospital), but the tent was destroyed.
Everest Base Camp Explosion - A team member on the Swedish Everest Internet Experiment dropped out after making a mistake that injured a Sherpa cook in Base Camp. A can of EPI-gas, placed too close to a kerosene lamp in the kitchen, exploded, injuring the hand of a cook named Dawa (who has since recovered). According to an expedition dispatch on Apr. 12, team member and adventure documentary filmmaker Tommy Heinrich put the canister too close to the lamp. With the Sherpas upset about the accident, he decided to leave rather than jeopardize the expedition. Heinrich was the first Argentinean to summit Everest (1995). The summit attempt is planned for this month.
CPSC, Zebco Announce Recall of Compact Camper Stoves |