Fire agencies weigh regulations on at-home biodiesel producers

Gilbert Fire Department Chief Collin DeWitt proposed an amendment to town code last month that would regulate the amount of stored biodiesel in a home and require residents to get a permit.

The permit, which would be free, would allow the fire department to have a record of where biodiesel is being manufactured — a benefit to firefighters if there is an incident at that house.

"My concerns were that if they're storing diesel fuel on site, it poses a hazard to our personnel," DeWitt said.

Fire departments are struggling to find ways to keep both their firefighters and residents safe from the potential of something going wrong.

DeWitt said that although the process for making biodiesel is relatively safe — biodiesel has to be heated to 140 degrees to burn — there are some dangers.

Methanol, a main ingredient, is highly flammable. Issues could also arise from mixing, disposing of, or just storing different chemicals.

Such was the case in late August when fumes from chemicals used to make biodiesel caused an explosion and fire at a Surprise home.

The fire didn't spread to the entire house, but there was heavy damage to the garage door, officials said.

In Scottsdale, the fire department is analyzing different types of regulation or policy, but nothing has been drafted, said spokeswoman Tiffani Nichols.

The Tempe Fire Department has also looked into how to keep residents safe, having investigated two biodiesel-related fires in the past few years.

In Gilbert, officials have begun drafting an amendment to town code that would limit the storage amount to 80 gallons of biodiesel and 10 gallons of methanol in residences.

Rupert Nelson, a Gilbert resident who owns $3,000 worth of biodiesel-processing equipment, opposes having to get a permit even if it's free.

"I have a feeling this is just a way for them to get their foot in the door to regulate and eventually start charging us tax dollars," Nelson said.