Caltex is urging its customers to follow safety procedures when filling up at service stations following two recent fire incidents at Caltex-branded sites.

The Caltex service station at Narwee, in Sydney's south, was extensively damaged by fire on Sunday 13 September and a man and a child suffered burns at a fire at the Caltex service station at Morriset, in the NSW Hunter region, on Saturday 19 September.

Both incidents involved the ignition of petrol vapour while jerry cans were being filled and a spark created by static electricity is believed to have been the cause.

Caltex's General Manager Marketing Andy Walz said that while static fires were uncommon, they could occur if measures were not taken to discharge the static electricity.

"When filling jerry cans or other containers, place them on the ground to discharge any static. Filling them up in the boot of your car or on the back of your ute will not discharge the static - they need to be placed on the ground," Mr Walz said.

Mr Walz also urged people to take other safety precautions such as switching off their engine, not smoking and ensuring mobile phones are turned off.

"Fuelling is such a routine task for many people that it is easy to become complacent. It is important people remember to read the warning signs and take the precautions indicated on these signs to ensure the health and safety of themselves, other customers and our employees," he said.

Investigations into the Narwee and Morriset incidents are continuing.

Caltex is continually assessing service station safety.



Media contact:
Georgie Wells
Media Adviser
Phone 02 9250 5094
Email gwells@caltex.com.au