Posted on July 07, 2025
![Photo of Christopher Allsup, the child whose memory this event is hosted in honor of.]()
Saturday, July 19, 2025
9-11 AM
Perry Police and Fire Department Parking Lot
908 Willis Avenue, Perry, IA 50220
Join us Saturday, July 19, for the annual gas can exchange event honoring Christopher Allsup’s legacy and promoting fire safety. Residents can trade in old gas cans, empty or full, for a new, metal safety can equipped with a flame arrestor to help prevent explosions caused by escaping vapors or accidental sparks. Flame arrestors are small, built-in screens that prevent sparks from entering the container and igniting fuel. Gas cans without them pose a serious risk.
On September 21, 2013, 10-year-old Christopher Allsup of Winterset was tragically killed when a plastic gasoline container exploded. In his memory, the Legacy of Christopher Allsup Gas Can Exchange was created to raise awareness about the dangers of outdated gas cans and the importance of safe fuel storage.
Event Details:
- One gas can exchange per vehicle
- Old gas cans accepted empty or full (no transferring of gas)
- New cans available first-come, first-served
- No cash value; non-transferable
- Participants will be required to sign a waiver
Now in its 11th year, the event is hosted in partnership with The Legacy of Christopher Allsup Foundation, Safe Kids Greater Des Moines, Blank Children’s Hospital, and Metro Waste Authority.
Together, we’re working to prevent future tragedies one safer gas can at a time.