Irresponsible customers filling up soft drink bottles with cheap fuel are risking explosions on the forecourt and at home, a petrol company says.
Radio New Zealand reports that Z Energy spokesperson Sheena Thomas said a number of people have been spotted trying to fill plastic bottles with petrol and blamed the recent drop in fuel prices.
“It's not something that we've seen very much previously, so it's something that we've recently noticed with this low oil price environment.”
She said most instances have been seen in the Bay of Plenty, and with the hugely volatile nature of petrol, bottles could ignite on the service station forecourts or in storage at home.
Fire Service National Manager of Fire Investigation Peter Wilding said the deterioration of a standard plastic bottle could happen very fast.
“It will depend on the plastics and on the seals but it doesn't take very long for petrol to soften those sort of plastics,” he said.
“If there's any ignition source nearby then you're placing yourself at very serious risk.”
The Environmental Protection Authority said only specially designed containers should be used, with a screw-cap to prevent liquid or vapour leaking out.
