Hello all,

Any thoughts on a fuel source for disasters that can be stored at home safely and lasts a long time? Preferably not propane.

Well, assuming that you are talking fuel for cooking, the safest and easiest to store would probably be an alcohol fueled stove. You can even use common rubbing alcohol in them, altho it doesn't burn as well as proper fuel. Only other cooking fuels that come readily to mind would be "Coleman" fuel and wood...

So how safe is Coleman fuel to store? Do I need to be concerned with it exploding on me? Forgive my ignorance..

Just wondering why you're not too hot on propane?

My wife doesn't feel comfortable with propane around. I'm trying to look for something that I can store and have minimal worry/upkeep.

I realize all fuels are dangerous but looking for a compromise.

Coleman fuel (also known as white gas) is, chemically speaking, very close to the gasoline you buy at the pump, without all the additives your car likes and the government requires, so storing it provides the same difficulties and dangers of storing a can of gas for a lawnmower.

Most estimates I've seen say that it starts to go bad after a year. That said, backpacking stoves are less complicated than engines, and if you know how to clean and maintain your stove you can burn white gas that is much older. My record is five years with no clogging, and only a slight drop-off in performance. Of course, I have no idea how long the stuff had been in the can when I bought it. I wonder if there's a date on the can . . .

I used to buy the gallon cans of Coleman fuel, but have recently switched to the ultra-pure stuff from MSR (http://www.msrgear.com/stoves/superfuel.asp). It's much more expensive, but white gas stoves are so efficient that the cost is still minor. Smaller cans equal less waste, and the higher purity makes my stove a real rocket. I can tell by the sound which type of fuel I'm burning, and I get faster boils using less fuel.

Both wood and charcoal are pretty inert and easy to store. And please remember to cook outside.

I use wood. I have this grill...
http://woodflame.com/en/delecto.php
http://www.snappdragon.com/woodflame-grill-delecto-p-9.html

for my all my grilling, but it is perfect for disasters. It was pricy, but it's the only grill I've ever had, it has lasted for years, and I never pay for fuel or have any concern about storage of fuels, obviously. It gets super hot, sears food and keeps in the moisture.

It uses chunks of hardwood, and has a fan that adds air to the fire box and makes the wood burn very efficiently, powered by either battery or AC adapter. I gather the wood from my backyard (full of hickory & oak trees), saw and hatchet to size. One set of D batteries is enough for a several months of cooking. One handful of wood is enough to cook a meal for 4.

I have taken it camping and on vacation. It's coming with me if I ever have to bug out. I have even used a fresnel lens and dried grass to start the fire in the combustion chamber!

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

You might want to look these over
Propane

and this
Gasoline

Before you choose to store fuel in your home.

Have a nice day.

I'm still using the gallon can of Coleman fuel that I bought in 1987. It's still going strong. I use it in my MSR Whisperlite and my 1960's vintage two burner Coleman camping stove.