There is a campground 5 miles from my home, which I have backpacked to just for a fun overnight. I have a MSR Whisperlite stove from the 90s, which I have used on many a backpacking/camping trip. It has fallen into disuse since I started using a simple fancy feast alcohol stove, but I had plenty of white gas left, so I decided to burn some of it off this trip. I set the stove up, primed it, and stared boiling enough water for two packs of ramen. It was not long before I noticed some fuel dripping from the canister. The seals must need replacement, I thought, but as long as it stayed far enough from the open flame, it was okay. The water came to a rolling boil, and my wife poured some into her pot. At this moment, fumes from the leaking canister caught on fire.
We didn't know what to do. I was pretty sure pouring water would not help, since the white gas would float. We didn't have something to smother the fire with that would not catch fire itself. At this point the whole shebang was burning, and two guys from the adjacent campsite came over to help. I was worried the canister would explode and hit everyone with shrapnel. The two fellas had two sticks of firewood, and were suggesting that I move the stove off the table. "We need to get this to the fire ring," I said. Using our walking sticks as tongs, I was able to walk over and toss the stove into the steel fire ring. I was still concerned about an explosion, but the guys suggested just to let it burn. The gas hissed and the fire grew larger for a moment, then gradually gave out.
I was pretty shaken by the whole event, and by my lack of lucidity when it was needed most. Luckily those guys showed up and helped me regain my senses. All in all, I got off EASY. We could have set the park on fire, or ourselves on fire. Doing some research afterward, fires caused by leaking fuel containers seem to be common. I should have stopped immediately when I noticed the leak. Also, camp stoves need to be regularly maintained and have their seals replaced. The good folks at MSR did a good thing by making the pump/valve mechanism out of plastic. I think it melted once it caught fire, which prevented a pressure buildup and explosion. I shudder to consider if this happened in the backcountry.
I was so grateful to the guys that afterward, I walked over and gifted one of them my Cold Steel Frontier Hawk, and the other my Victorinox Camper. Hopefully they will get good use out of them.
We didn't know what to do. I was pretty sure pouring water would not help, since the white gas would float. We didn't have something to smother the fire with that would not catch fire itself. At this point the whole shebang was burning, and two guys from the adjacent campsite came over to help. I was worried the canister would explode and hit everyone with shrapnel. The two fellas had two sticks of firewood, and were suggesting that I move the stove off the table. "We need to get this to the fire ring," I said. Using our walking sticks as tongs, I was able to walk over and toss the stove into the steel fire ring. I was still concerned about an explosion, but the guys suggested just to let it burn. The gas hissed and the fire grew larger for a moment, then gradually gave out.
I was pretty shaken by the whole event, and by my lack of lucidity when it was needed most. Luckily those guys showed up and helped me regain my senses. All in all, I got off EASY. We could have set the park on fire, or ourselves on fire. Doing some research afterward, fires caused by leaking fuel containers seem to be common. I should have stopped immediately when I noticed the leak. Also, camp stoves need to be regularly maintained and have their seals replaced. The good folks at MSR did a good thing by making the pump/valve mechanism out of plastic. I think it melted once it caught fire, which prevented a pressure buildup and explosion. I shudder to consider if this happened in the backcountry.
I was so grateful to the guys that afterward, I walked over and gifted one of them my Cold Steel Frontier Hawk, and the other my Victorinox Camper. Hopefully they will get good use out of them.
. When day broke, I was sure I had added one more to the tally, but the table looked unscathed. Only the folks who witnessed the mini bonfire last night will know what really happened.
