HERE'S THE REAL FACTS!

All this info comes from Pei.org, Api.com, wired.com and Snopes.com (links below)

Cell phones DON'T cause fires when refueling your car!

The REAL DANGER is from STATIC ELECTRICITY !

Here's the short story --- While refueling, if you get back into and out of the car, you PROBABLY have generated a BOAT LOAD of static electricity ... from sliding across the seat --- (think STATIC CLING)! When you touch the gas nozzle, you'll likely create a SPARK WHICH CAN SET THE FUEL VAPORS ON FIRE !

See the video clip at the bottom of this page !

Here's what to do to protect yourself !!

TOUCH THE CAR WITH YOUR BARE HAND BEFORE REACHING FOR THE NOZZLE!

This will discharge the static electricity you might have generated.

Note --- If you're driving a "plastic" car like a Saturn or a Corvette, touch something metal on the Fuel Pump to discharge the static --- the pump is grounded.

So, here's important information from Industry organizations.

Please note while viewing this video --- the lady inserts the nozzle and then gets back into her car. That's where she generates the STATIC electricity. She has the door open from beginning to end. If she had CLOSED the door and touched the metal on it, she would have discharged the static!

It appears that she might have briefly used her cell phone ... I can't tell for sure... Don't be fooled, that's NOT the problem. AKA ... The "urban legend" that will not die! (see Snopes.com for more)

Experts say NOT TO PULL THE NOZZLE OUT if a fire does occur! That's because if the fuel is still flowing, you might splash burning fuel all over yourself. Go to the station attendant and have them shut it off. The fire will usually go out all by itself, in just seconds.