Use portable camping stoves safely | Resources Safety & Health Queensland
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Petroleum and gas safety alert no. 54 | 22 January 2013 | Version 1

Use portable camping stoves safely

What happened?

Two campers received serious burns when their new portable butane stove exploded because the had not read the instructions for use.

How did it happen?

The Stove was brand new and had not been used before. The stove had a small sticker on its trivet plate that told users to turn the plate over before lighting it. The campers removed the stove from its packaging but failed to read the assembly and operating instructions.

The campers lit the stove and placed a large diameter frypan on the top even though the trivet plate was still inverted in the storage position. The pan deflected the flame's heat directly down onto the butane canister which overheated and exploded.

Operating the stove with the trivet plate inverted left insufficient space between bottom of the fry pan and the fuel canister.

The oversize cooking pan might have increased the radiant heat onto the butane canister.

Recommendations

  1. Read warning labels carefully and follow the assembly instructions for these products.
  2. Put the trivet in its cooking position before operating the stove.
  3. Do not use oversize pans on these stoves to avoid too much heat deflecting onto the butane canister.
  4. Do not place the stove on or adjacent to sources of heat (e.g. barbecue plates or fires).

In addition, only use portable butane stoves, or similar portable gas devices, out of doors (not indoors or in the confined spaces of tents, boats or caravans) and only use an Australian approved gas appliance (look for the label).

Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.

We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.

Authorised by Stephen Matheson - Chief Inspector, Petroleum and Gas

Contact: Principal Inspector, Petroleum and Gas

Issued by Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines

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Acknowledgement of Country

RSHQ respectfully acknowledges all Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the country on which we live and work. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and commit to ongoing reconciliation. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.