SACRAMENTO – The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced that it is mandating the removal of hold open latches on all Vapor System Technologies (VST) nozzles in approximately 3,000 gas stations statewide.

The action taken will ensure public safety and allow the gasoline stations equipped with VST nozzles to continue operating.

Some VST nozzles have allowed gasoline to be unexpectedly sprayed before the nozzle is inserted in the vehicle’s’ gas tank.

To date, 13 spraying incidents have been reported and confirmed by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). Seven of these incidents resulted in consumers being sprayed with gasoline.

In order to avoid the possibility of being sprayed with gas, it’s very important for customers fueling with a VST nozzle take the following steps:

• Insert the nozzle into the gas tank before selecting the grade of gasoline;

• Do not insert any type of foreign object (gas cap, water bottle, etc) in the handle to keep the gas flowing;

• If you encounter a VST nozzle with the hold-open latch still in place, do not use it.

Station owners or operators are obligated to remove the hold open latches by Oct. 15 in order to remain in operation.

ARB is currently working with VST and other manufacturers on replacement nozzles. When these replacement nozzles become available, they will provide the station owners the option of replacing their current VST nozzles with a nozzle that provides hold-open latches for their customers.