"What TV news covers is dictated by ratings, not importance, and sensational claims get better ratings than straightforward, mundane information, even if the latter is more valuable to the viewing audience."

That's from this article from Snopes relating to this subject:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cookplastic.asp

But to tell the truth, I wouldn't expose my one and only water container to a fire, period.

Sue