I received email from the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, who are aware of this false rumor.
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Information on Hand Sanitizer Fire Risk
Over the last few days, We have seen a lot of media attention payed to hand sanitizer igniting in a hot car. To help with all the media inquiries plus fire department questions about this topic the NFPA today provided a blog post with some clarifying info on this matter. CLICK HERE for information.
Highlights:
Can hand sanitizer spontaneously ignite in a hot car?
Despite some information currently being released on social media and in the news, the short answer is no. From a fire safety standpoint, it is not unsafe to leave hand sanitizer inside a hot vehicle.
The compounds comprising typical hand sanitizers are not prone to spontaneous heating or self-reacting. To reach the ignition temperature of the alcohol-based hand sanitizers described in the video, requires temperatures in excess of 700 F. Exposure from summer sun in a closed vehicle produces temperatures nearing 200 F, but not likely 700 F. So, based on the characteristics of the hand sanitizer and the process for spontaneous combustion, it is not likely that such a reaction would occur.
All of this said, hand sanitizer still presents fire safety concerns, and caution should be used around open flames.
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