Gas prices ranged from $4.59 to $4.99 per gallon at the West Broad Street Shell station in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

WESTPORT — As the cost of gas continues to climb in Connecticut and across the globe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the town’s fire marshal is urging residents not to hoard fuel in an attempt to save money.

“When faced with the stunning jump in fuel costs, a few residents have resorted to gasoline hoarding,” Fire Marshal Nate Gibbons said. “People are taking any and every container to the pump and filling it up.”

Fuels like gasoline and diesel are flammable. Gibbons stressed that there are specific containers used to hold gas safely.

Gibbons said the cans used to store small fuel quantities are metal or a special red plastic that have safety nozzles and can be sealed against leaking vapors, which can ignite if they connect with a source of ignition

Anyone with questions can call the fire marshal at 203-341-5020.

I work in the Connecticut Post newsroom in Bridgeport, mainly covering breaking news as it's happening for Hearst Connecticut Media. For updates, photos and videos from the scene of breaking news events, follow me on Twitter @Tara_O'Neill_. Send breaking news tips to toneill@hearstmediact.com or by calling 203-330-6257.