If you’re tempted, because of the threatened gasoline shortage, to hoard some of the precious liquid in containers at your home, you’d better give the matter a second thought and get some advice from the fire inspector. Barring certain conditionssuch as having an underwriter approved container buried in the ground-the answer will be: Don’t do it. Gasoline has tremendous explosive and fire power. And it’s hazardous to handle. Its fumes, coming in contact with a pilot light, can explode into fire. Provo Fire Chief Stan Brown says you shouldn’t store any gasoline in homes and never near a pilot light. “We recommend that people don’t store gas in large quantities at all. If they do keep small quantities (for the lawn mower, for example) then put it in good metal containers with tight lids, in a building outside the house, and out of the reach of cl1.ildren.” Provo City ordinances are quite specific on safety requirements in handling gasoline and we imagine the same would be true in other cities. No delivery of any Class 1 liquids (that includes gasoline) shall be made into portable containers unless the container is constructed of metal or is approved by the fire chief or inspector. The id should be tight and fitted with spout so contents can be poured without spilling. As for storing substantial quantities, approved containers must not exceed 60 gallons capacity and stored underground in special enclosures as set forth by the ordinance. A minimum of four feet of earth over the top is required, the fire chief said. Chief Brown gave this example of a problem which has caused trouble in the past: Cold gasoline, pumped out of the ground, is stored in a container in a basement. As the gas wamiseiir it expands. A rupture is caus in the receptacle and liquid flows out. Vapors come in touch with the pilot light of a water heater or furnace. A flash fire occurs. Safety is the key word in dealing with gasoline. And the safest advice on storage obviously is: Don’t take a chance.