Gasoline can explode when mixed in the right proportions with air and exposed to an ignition source. The subsequent explosion can cause both burns and blast damage.
Gasoline vapor explosions occur at a gasoline to air ratio of 1.1 to 6%. Above 6% the mixture will combust but not explode.
Requirements for a gasoline explosion:
(1) sufficient gasoline
(2) oxygen
(3) poor ventilation (to allow the gasoline vapors to accumulate)
(4) a high enough temperature (to allow vaporization)
(5) an ignition source
Situations where this can occur:
(1) arson
(2) using gasoline as a cleaning solution
(3) gasoline spill
(4) heating gasoline during volatile abuse
(5) looking inside a storage tank with a match
Residues or containers at the scene can be helpful in identifying the presence of gasoline.
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