Explosion

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 498, 10 August 1993, Page 3

Explosion

Wanganui Fire Safety Officer Eddie McPake can't believe that the two occupants of the caravan that exploded at the Ohakune Motor Camp last week, managed to walk away from the scene. The Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade attended the incident that occurred just after 5.30am on Wednesday. A team of officials from the Wanganui Fire Service inspected the site later in the day. Mr McPake said an accumulation of LPG gas from a cylinder attached to a gas cooker was ignited by the spark of an electric

fridge. Luckily he said, the spark was insufficient to fully ignite the gas, which would have been sufficient to blow the caravan apart. The consequent ball of flame that was produced set alight curtains and erupted with enough force to blow out all the caravan's windows, as well as tearing cupboards from walls. Mr McPake said it was unusual that the occupants, who claimed that they had last used the stove some 12 hours earlier, failed to smell the leaking gas. Some common sense j Tum to page 8 i i

Explosion

Frorp page 3 safety measures to take when using gas include: • check supply lines between cooker and cylinder for leaks. • Ensure the correct hose is fitted, ie. braided, reinforced hose and not the clear plastic variety that is susceptible to ultra-violet light and prone to cracking. • Ideally, ensure the gas supply is turned off at the cylinder when not in use, or overnight.