Originally Posted by
Former Cav
I'm guessing he used his 308 scoped rifle for the tanks.
BTW.... wouldn't the tank have a rubber bladder in it that shrinks as you draw the fluid down so their is NO room for vapors?
and...a couple of years ago...myth busters were shooting gasoline tanks with tracers and NOTHING happened.
Cav,
More than likely the tanks Do have a bladder to limit vapor. That would be why an attempt was made to put a hole in the tank. Even if he was successful in making a hole (or multiple holes, for that matter), he would still have to cause ignition in an area where the fuel/air mixture was right. Not so easy to do. Too much or too little fuel and it won't ignite. Same goes for air. Even if he did somehow manage to poke a hole and have the fuel ignite (and it would only do that outside of the tank), a fire of that size would be a non-event. Airport firefighters routinely practice on flammable liquid fires much larger than would have been created.
As to the mythbusters thing, again a tracer going through a gasoline tank wouldn't cause a fire unless the fuel/air mixture was right. I've personally observed cigarettes and even road flares being put out by being submerged in gasoline. Just don't try that at home! It was demonstrated during a flammable liquids class at a fire academy with all involved at a safe distance.
I dream of a better world. One where chickens may cross the road without their motives being questioned.