Static electricity can ignite gasoline vapors during refueling.

See an example here.

Yes.

The Petroleum Equipment Institute has been compiling statistics on fires caused by static electricity while refueling. You can see their statistics here.

But some of the claims in the email don't jibe with the statistics reported by the Petroleum Equipment Institute:

Email	PEI report
Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.	While the PEI's web page on static mentions over 150 reported fires, the PEI report documents 115 cases and does not classify the reports by sex.
Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went back to pull the nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static.	The PEI reports 29 cases involving returning to the car and sitting in it and 18 that did not.
Most had on rubber-soled shoes.	The report summary states that 'Rubber-soled shoes were worn by the refuelers in 94% of the accidents where footwear was identified.' But the report does not mention how many reports where footwear was identified.
Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.	Not documented in the PEI report.
Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas	The summary of the PEI report states, 'No cell phones were involved.'
Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.	Documented in the PEI report.

Smoking or running the engine while refueling isn't such a hot idea either according to the incidents gathered by the Petroleum Equipment Institute.

The PEI recommendations for refueling safety don't have the sex, behavior and apparel claims that the email does:

• Turn off engine.
• Don't smoke.
• Never re-enter your vehicle.

• Stop Static - a safety campaign from the Petroleum Equipment Institute
• Summary of Fires at Refueling Sites That Appear To Be Static Related from the Petroleum Equipment Institute

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