[TXnMA]

I was reared in an oil company residential "camp", and, as Scouts, the only place we had to use for campsites was in the "oil patch". AFAIK, none of us even approached any of the production sites (wells -- where these sort of holding tanks are located).

1. We were taught that the oil facilities did not belong to us -- therefore we should leave them alone. (Does any kid nowadays honor the principle of respecting other folks' property?)
2. None of us smoked. (Little danger of us causing a fire/explosion even if we happened to pass close to a fume-filled tank.)
3. We were well aware that the main reason for collecting oil and gas was that -- they burn!

I now have a producing well (complete with two holding/accumulating tanks) back in the woods of the 'south 40' of my place.. My grandkids have been taught to stay away from everything at the well site.

My guess is that these deceased kids' parents were way too permissive, and that they (like most modern parents seem to do) failed in their duty to teach their kids basic principles of right versus wrong.

[nanny]

My grandkids have been taught to stay away from everything at the well site.

A lot of people are making the assumption the parents never told the children not to do what they did. Did everyone on here always do what their parents told them to do? Did any of you ever disobey? Gosh, I was a ninny and a complete coward and I did many things I was told not to do, things I knew I shouldn't do, dangerous things - as a teenager.

Young people don't have the same sense of self-preservation as most older people,and they give little thought to their own mortality.

Yes, it was not smart - but dollars to donuts, they weren't the first kids in the 'oil patch' to play on top of oil tanks, or ride the pumps or any of those other dangerous things that kids do, and survive.

They did a dangerous thing and paid with their lives - and it is sad.