![spongebob squarepants season 1 episode 17b spongebob squarepants season 1 episode 17b](https://64.media.tumblr.com/60f2ee4b606b1ae6e33498e629461b6d/tumblr_oygqyfxMyK1uytjwwo1_500.png)
Current showrunner Vincent Waller has confirmed in a statement on Twitter on Jthat the removal of the scene was ultimately due to Nickelodeon being against the idea of a gag involving a match and gasoline.
![spongebob squarepants season 1 episode 17b spongebob squarepants season 1 episode 17b](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wqlUIxtnMvc/maxresdefault.jpg)
Initially, explanations for the removal were thought to be either for sensitivity reasons after the September 11 attacks, which occurred less than a month before the episode first aired in October 2001, or to prevent children from attempting to use and/or ignite gas. However, this scene was removed from being aired worldwide (except for the Canadian and the South Korean airings, although it wasn't actually censored in recent U.S. He later makes his way to the Patty Vault but not before another bucket of gas drops on him, reigniting the flames.