CECILIA, Ky. — The Hardin County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning after a fuel mix-up was reported at a Cecilia service station.
According to Deputy Bryan Sallee, the sheriff's office has determined that kerosene recently purchased from the Three T Food Mart on Leitchfield Road in Cecilia, Kentucky could potentially be contaminated with gasoline.
The sheriff's office believes a recent house fire was caused by a person using this contaminated fuel.
"This can be extremely dangerous," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Sallee said anyone who has purchased kerosene from that location in the last month can return it for a full refund. That fuel should not be used.
The kerosene is currently being tested.
If you think you may have been given gasoline instead of kerosene, you are urged to contact Deputy Sallee at (270) 765-5133.
What is the difference between kerosene and gasoline?
Kerosene is typically used for heating, whereas gasoline is used in vehicles and other engine-driven products like lawnmowers, according to Bumgarner Oil. Using gasoline in place of kerosene could lead to fire or an explosion.
Bumgarner Oil suggests smelling each fluid - gasoline will have a stronger smell. However, smell alone isn't a definite way to distinguish between the two.
Here are two other ways to compare the two, courtesy of Bumgarner Oil:
- Pour a small quantity of the fluid into a cup. Place it outside for about an hour in a well-ventilated area (because gasoline fumes are flammable). Then check to see whether it is still in the cup, or if it has evaporated or is starting to evaporate. Kerosene needs heat to evaporate, whereas gasoline evaporates into the air much faster at lower temperatures.
- Pour a couple of drops of the fluid into a cup. Place the cup on a cement driveway or sidewalk. Light a match and drop it in. See if the fluid ignites or not. Gasoline creates a flame instantly, but kerosene oil does not. Remember, this exercise is potentially dangerous, so ensure no children or pets are present. This test should only be performed by a responsible adult.
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