Question: How can I get rid of some propane tanks I have stored on my property? I don’t want them around after hearing about that fire in Kaimuki.
Q: In all the hurricane preparedness, I bought a propane tank, which seems ridiculous now (I don’t even have a propane grill!). After that fire I don’t want it. Will anyone accept them as donations? It isn’t empty.
Answer: You are two of numerous readers who have asked about the safe storage and disposal of barbecue grill-type propane tanks in the wake of a Kaimuki house fire that killed a 33-year-old woman and and her baby on Oct. 17. The Honolulu Fire Department ruled the fire accidental, tracing it to leaking propane vapor ignited by an electric water heater. There were three barbecue-type propane tanks stored in the carport, HFD said.
First, regarding disposal:
The city’s Department of Environmental Services says Oahu residents may drop off 5-gallon barbecue-type propane tanks at any of its six convenience centers or at the Kapaa or Kawailoa transfer stations. The convenience centers are in Ewa, Laie, Wahiawa, Waianae, Waimanalo and Waipahu.
The tanks do not have to be empty, said Markus Owens, the department’s spokesman. (The department’s website, opala.org, said they must be empty, but Owens confirmed Thursday that that is not the case. He said the website would be corrected.)
Never put these 5-gallon tanks in your regular household garbage. If a propane tank gets into the HPOWER waste-to-energy processing plant, it could explode.
Also, don’t take these propane tanks (or even smaller ones) to the department’s bimonthly hazardous waste dropoff events. They are not accepted there, he said.
As for smaller propane or butane containers, Owens said Oahu residents should dispose of them by attaching them to a portable stove or grill to burn off any remaining gas, then bagging them and placing them in the regular household trash.
As for donations, if you have a full propane tank or cylinder to give away, start by asking your neighbors whether they have propane- powered grills and can store the fuel correctly, Owens suggested.
Now, on to storage, based on information from Capt. Scot Seguirant, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department:
Propane tanks must be stored outdoors, in dry, temperate, well-ventilated areas. Propane is heavier than air. So, if it leaks in an enclosed space, it drops and lingers, rather than blowing away, as it would in a well-ventilated area. Lingering propane can ignite and explode. The ignition source could be something otherwise benign like a water heater or a clothes dryer; it doesn’t have to be a match.
To repeat, do not store propane tanks indoors, which includes not only homes, but also enclosed spaces such as backyard sheds. Even inside a garage or open carport is dangerous.
The smaller propane fuel sources (green canisters) have the same risk and likewise must be stored properly. Don’t store them inside the house, such as inside cabinets. They too must be kept in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Use all safety features on a propane tank at all times. On a barbecue-type propane tank, make sure that the tank itself (and not just the grill) is safely turned off and disconnected after each use.
If you suspect an active leak, call 911 immediately and evacuate the area. (The smell of rotten eggs or a hissing sound are two potential signs).
Take care to maintain and replace propane tanks, rather than simply refilling them year after year; nozzles, valves and connections can wear out.
Mahalo
Mahalo nui loa to Lt. Liu, who was so kind and helpful when I lost my ticket at the state ID office on Oct. 22. — Jim
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
