VOLATILE FUEL FROM A LIQUID CAMP STOVE THAT WAS STORED IN A KNAPSACK IN THE OVERHEAD RACK; LEAKED AND SOAKED INTO THE CLOTHING AND CREATED AN ODOR. THE CAPT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT TO OFFLOAD THE POTENTIAL CABIN FIRE HAZARD ASAP.

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TIME: XA00Z. ATC FREQ: UNKNOWN. ATC FACILITY: HOUSTON. LOCATION: HOU ENRTE SFO TO MIA. THE FLT ATTENDANTS NOTICED AN UNUSUAL ODOR IN THE COACH CABIN. AFTER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM A KNAPSACK IN AN OVERHEAD BAGGAGE BIN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A SMALL METAL CAMPING STOVE CONTAINING APPROX 8 OUNCES OF LIQUID CAMP STOVE FUEL WAS INSIDE THE KNAPSACK. CLOTHING WITHIN THE KNAPSACK WAS SOAKED WITH FUEL. DISPATCH WAS NOTIFIED VIA COMMERCIAL RADIO OF THE HAZMATS IN THE CABIN. THE AIRPLANE FLT MANUAL PROCS WERE FOUND TO BE AMBIGUOUS. DISPATCH CONTACTED THE SFO CHIEF PLT FOR CLARIFICATION. SUBSEQUENTLY; AT THE CAPT'S REQUEST; DISPATCH CONTACTED THE B767/B757 FLEET MGR'S OFFICE FOR CLARIFICATION. THE FLEET MGR'S OFFICE GAVE AN INTERP WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO THE SFO CHIEF PLT'S INTERP. THE MOST CONSERVATIVE INTERP OF THE PROCS OF THE AIRPLANE FLT MANUAL WERE COMPLIED WITH BY THE CREW. DIVERSION TO MSY WAS MADE TO REMOVE THE HAZMAT FROM THE ACFT. AN EMER WAS DECLARED SO AS TO HAVE ASSISTANCE READILY AVAILABLE SHOULD IT BECOME NEEDED. UPON ARR AT THE GATE THE MSY STATION MGR REMOVED THE KNAPSACK AND CAMP STOVE FROM THE ACFT. THE PAX TO WHOM THE KNAPSACK BELONGED WAS COOPERATIVE. HE HAD PROCEEDED THROUGH SECURITY SCREENING AT SFO WITH THE KNAPSACK WITHOUT THE STOVE BEING DETECTED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE STOVE WAS CONSTRUCTED OF METAL AND WAS STORED IN A METAL BOX MEASURING APPROX 4 INCHES BY 6 INCHES BY 6 INCHES. THE PAX WAS UNAWARE THAT CARRYING THE FUELED CAMP STOVE ON BOARD AN ACFT WAS PROHIBITED.