Wes Troop, Project Leader

Firefighters will have an easier time carrying chain saw gas and bar oil on Government-contracted aircraft, thanks to a new carrying bag (figure 1) for aluminum fuel bottles. The bag, developed by the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC), can keep up to six 1-quart fuel bottles (also known as Sigg bottles) upright. Wildland firefighters use these bottles to transport chain saw gas and bar oil.

Figure 1—This carrying bag, developed by
the Missoula Technology and Development Center,
can keep six aluminum fuel bottles upright for
transport on Government-contracted aircraft.

Even though these bottles do not meet U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) specifications, they may be legally used to transport gas and oil in a Government-contracted aircraft, if the provisions of chapter 2 of the Interagency Aviation Transport of Hazardous Materials Guide (NFES 1068, figure 2) are met. For aluminum fuel bottles, these provisions are:

• The bottles must not be filled above the fill level line.
• The bottles must be secured in the upright position.
• The bottles must be located so that they cannot contact batteries, battery fluids, oxidizers, or explosives.
• The bottles must not be transported in unvented compartments.
• The bottles must not be transported with the pouring spout installed. Use the unvented cap instead.

Figure 2—Aluminum fuel bottles carried on
Government-contracted aircraft must be transported
following the instructions in chapter 4 of the Interagency
Aviation Transport of Hazardous Materials Guide, available at
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/av_library/index.html.

Aluminum fuel bottles transported following these provisions do not need to be in an overpack container meeting DOT specifications, such as the special cardboard boxes that have been used in past years.

Instead, the new bag can be used. Before using the bag for the first time, you may want to install a 7½- by 11-inch piece of cardboard in the bottom to make the bag more stable when it is being loaded with bottles. Replace the cardboard if it becomes soaked with gasoline or oil.

Inspect each bottle for cracks or other damage and ensure that the cap and gasket or O-ring are in good condition. Damaged bottles should be replaced. Caps and gaskets or O-rings should be replaced as needed.

Be careful not to fill the bottles above the recommended fill line (figure 3). This is extremely important because the bottles can fail if they are overfilled. During testing by MTDC, pressures exceeded 500 pounds per square inch in bottles that were over-filled and left in the sun. When the same type of bottle was properly filled, the maximum pressure was less than 1 pound per square inch. Pour excess fuel from any bottle that has been overfilled before screwing in the cap. The outside of the bottles should be wiped clean after filling to prevent spilled fuel from contaminating the transport bag or firefighter clothing and packs.

Figure 3—Filling a fuel bottle above the
recommended fill line could cause the
bottle to leak or fail.

Six bottles may be placed in each transport bag. After the bag is loaded, close the zipper and tighten the compression strap on each side to immobilize the bottles (figure 4).

Figure 4—The MTDC fuel bottle bag with side
straps tightened to transport fuel bottles.

Wash the bag if it becomes contaminated with oil or gasoline. Use cold water and the gentle cycle on your washer. Air-dry the bag to prevent the fabric from deteriorating.

The fuel bottle bag may be obtained through the General Services Administration using the stock number 8465015034476. The NFES number is 0536.

For more information on the fuel bottle bag or on transporting fuel bottles, phone Wesley Throop at 406–329–3957, or e-mail: wthroop@fs.fed.us.

About the Author

Wes Throop is a project engineer at MTDC. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Idaho in 1983. Throop has worked as a smokechaser, hotshot, and engine foreman for the Forest Service, and as a civilian mechanical engineer for the U.S. Department of the Navy. Before coming to MTDC in 1999, he worked as a mechanical engineer at the test reactor area of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory near Idaho Falls, ID.

Additional single copies of this document may be ordered from:

USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center
5785 Hwy. 10 West
Missoula, MT 59808–9361
Phone: 406–329–3978
Fax: 406–329–3719
Email: wo_mtdc_pubs@fs.fed.us

Electronic copies of MTDC's documents are available on the Internet at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d

For further technical information, contact Wes Throop at MTDC:

Phone: 406–329–3929
Fax: 406–329–3719
Email: wthroop@fs.fed.us