Firefighters rushed to Columbus' south side on Thursday after residents reported propane tanks exploding at an apartment building. Crews managed to keep the flames locked inside a single unit near South Wall Street and West Jenkins Avenue, and no injuries were reported. Officials said the cause of the blasts is still under investigation.
Crews Keep South Side Fire to One Unit
According to WSYX, Columbus Division of Fire crews responded to the call and found flames in a single apartment in the South Wall Street and West Jenkins Avenue area. Fire investigators told the station the fire was contained to that one unit and that no one was hurt. Images in the station's coverage show firefighters working the scene around the affected apartment.
Why Propane Tanks Can Turn A Fire Into A Fireball
Propane cylinders exposed to intense heat can fail catastrophically in what is called a boiling-liquid, expanding-vapor explosion, or BLEVE. That kind of failure can produce a fireball and send pieces of the tank flying outward. The Centers for Disease Control's NIOSH warns that BLEVEs are a particular hazard during structure fires and advises defensive tactics and evacuation when cylinders are involved, NIOSH notes. Common on-scene tactics include keeping a safe distance, using large-volume water streams and coordinating with hazardous-materials specialists to manage any remaining cylinders.
Cause Of Blast Still A Mystery
Officials have not yet confirmed what triggered the reported propane blasts, and the Columbus Division of Fire is continuing to investigate, per WSYX. Images from local coverage show fire crews and investigators working around the damaged unit as officials assess the scene and evaluate the extent of the damage.
