BANGOR – On Aug. 6, a 16-year-old teenager from South Berwick died at Massachusetts General Hospital from burns suffered from a campfire accident in Shapleigh three days earlier. Investigators later determined the teen was pouring gasoline on a campfire in an attempt to revive the fire when the flames ignited the gasoline, causing the can to explode.

In the wake of this tragic event, officials at the Bangor Fire Department remind residents that while gasoline may be safe when handled properly, it also can pose an unusually high fire hazard.

In 1998, the National Fire Protection Association found that 4,700 gasoline fires occurred, resulting in 86 deaths and 463 injuries. Causes for these fires included fuel spills, gas used to wash parts or for clean-up, gas being too close to heat sources, children playing with gas, gas containers stored improperly, fueling improperly and gas used to kindle a fire.

Some tips to remember when using gasoline include:

. Store gas containers outside the home in a shed in an approved container – not milk jugs, glass container, etc. – and away from any potential ignition sources such as electrical devices or equipment that would generate heat or sparks.

. Do not let children handle gasoline.

. Do not use gasoline inside the home as a cleaning agent or in place of other fluids such as kerosene, paint thinner, etc.

. Do not smoke when handling gasoline.

. Allow machinery such as lawn mowers, snowmobiles, weed trimmers, etc., to cool down first before refueling.

. Fill portable gas containers outside and on the ground only. Do not attempt to fill the gas container inside a vehicle or the bed of a pickup truck – especially pickups with plastic liners.

. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire or stop the flow of fuel if a fire starts with gasoline. Leave the area immediately and call for help.

Also, while rare, static electricity created from entering and exiting a vehicle while fueling could start a fire. And, while also rare, using some electronic devices around gasoline also may result in a fire or an explosion.

To obtain information, or to see a demonstration of how flammable fuel’s vapors – rather than liquid – ignite in a fire, call 992-4714.