A senior fire chief warned the public today of the dangers of stockpiling petrol.
Jon Hall, chief fire officer for both Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Gloucestershire Trading Standards, spoke out in the wake of a possible fuel shortage.
Mr Hall said petrol was highly flammable and therefore extremely dangerous and presented a major hazard to firefighters.
"I am really concerned about the prospect of householders stockpiling petrol at home in anticipation of a possible tanker drivers' strike," he said.
"This is potentially extremely dangerous as petrol is not only highly inflammable, but is also explosive under some circumstances.
"In addition, there are strict legal requirements for the storage of this type of fuel and a householder may commit an offence by not storing petrol safely."
Mr Hall said the public should follow trading standards advice on the safe storage of petrol.
Meanwhile, moves to start peace talks aimed at averting a strike by fuel tanker drivers will be stepped up today amid fears that panic buying of petrol will escalate.
Many garages have reported long queues after Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude suggested drivers should fill up any spare jerry cans with petrol and keep them in garages.
But another Government minister admitted Mr Maude had made a "mistake" after fire safety experts warned of the dangers of storing petrol.
"You can't store that amount of petrol. It was a mistake by the Cabinet minister. He didn't understand the size of a jerry can. He has apologised since," transport minister Mike Penning told BBC2's Newsnight.
However he insisted that Mr Maude was right to advise drivers to keep their petrol tanks full as the seven days notice the union is required to give before going on strike would leave little time to prepare.
"Seven days isn't enough to actually make sure we have the facilities and the amount of fuel we need to go forward," Mr Penning said.
"If they go on strike the country will have a problem. Let's be prepared for that in case it happens."