Gases in The Media - February 2011 Archive

Trains around Reading disrupted by gas cylinder fire

28/02/2011

Train services around Reading in Berkshire were disrupted by a fire involving a gas cylinder, which it was feared might explode.

Crews were called to Kennet Weir business park in Theale at 0930 GMT.

A 200m (650ft) cordon was set up and workers were evacuated from offices. A smaller cordon remains in place while the cylinder is monitored.

The earlier exclusion zone included the railway, meaning trains from Reading to Westbury were halted until 1530 GMT.

Train services to the west of England were diverted around the area and did not call at any stations between Reading and Westbury during the incident.

Bus replacements operated between Reading and Bedwyn and Pewsey and Swindon.

A specialist robot brought in from the London Fire Brigade was used remotely to assess the cylinder. About 30 firefighters attended the scene.

BBC News Berkshire, 28 February 2011 19:38

Further detail:

TRAINS are running normally through Newbury and Reading following disruption earlier today (Monday) due to a major fire at an industrial park in Theale.

A thermal imaging robot was used by the London Fire Service to help with a blaze at Unit two at Kennet Weir in Arrowhead Road, that caused more than 100 people to be evacuated from nearby offices.

The blaze, which broke out at Alan Hadley Recycling and Waste Management in Kennet Weir Business Park at about 9.15am, caused an Acetylene gas cylinder to overheat.

A 200-metre cordon was enforced in case the cylinder, which is used for welding, exploded.

This resulted in the closure of Arrowhead Road, Brunel Road, and Waterside Road.

Speaking at the scene at about 1pm today, Lincoln Ball, station manager at the fire headquarters in Dee Road, Tilehurst, said: “We immediately put in place a 200m cordon from the business premises.

“We believe that this has affected about six businesses with about 100 to 150 people evacuated.

“Acetylene is a gas unlike any other which means the cylinder can self heat and inevitably goes bang. This can create a 25 meter fire ball."

“If we get indications that the cylinder is not self heating we can reduce the cordon but we will be here for 24 hours because it’s a 24-hour operation."

“The robot is testing for heat and whether the cylinder is steaming off, it updates every fifteen minutes."

“The robot is specifically used for Acetylene gad cylinders and for explosives.”

He said that the cause of the fire was still being investigated.

The cordon was reduced to 50 metres at about 1.30pm and Network Rail has said trains are now running normally through Theale.

Ambulance crews were at the scene but there were no reported injuries.

Mark Taylor/James Williams, Newbury Today

Gas bottle at centre of campsite blast probe

28/02/2011

Police will examine the condition of a gas bottle that caused a campsite inferno on the New South Wales mid-north coast over the weekend.

Seven people were seriously injured when a gas bottle exploded at Point Plomer, north of Port Macquarie, about 11:00pm (AEDT) on Saturday night.

Six of them were flown to Sydney hospitals.

A five-year-old Crescent Head boy who suffered burns to 35 per cent of his body is in a serious but stable condition at Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital.

A 43-year-old man, 40-year-old woman, 15-year-old girl are also listed as being in serious but stable conditions at Royal North Shore Hospital, and a 21-year-old man is also being treated in the burns unit.

Another man is his 20s is being treated at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

Local police say there will be a lengthy investigation into the explosion.

Inspector John Sullivan says the condition of the gas bottle is one of the issues police will look at.

"It's a very popular camping spot up near Crescent Head. Point Plomer is used by a number of people and it was very busy at the time," Inspector Sullivan said.

"We're asking if anyone did witness the incident at the Point Plomer camping ground, to contact Kempsey detectives or Crime Stoppers. Just so that we're aware of who they are and get a version of what they saw.

"This could be a prolonged investigation depending on the injuries of those down in Sydney and obviously the lengthy recovery for a number of them."

Chris Wilson, from Fire and Rescue New South Wales, has warned people to regularly check their gas bottles, and replace them every 10 years.

"Over a period of time they can rust and parts in them can fail and they have to be hydrostatically checked," he said.

"There is actually a date stamped on the top of the cylinder and once that date is due I would advise people to go and exchange their cylinders."

28th February 2011 14:45

Gas explosion throws man 20 feet across apartment patio

13/02/2011

DURHAM – A man was thrown 20 feet across a patio Tuesday night when a propane cylinder exploded as he grilled food at an apartment complex in West Durham.

The man, whose identity was not released, was transported to Duke University Hospital with minor injuries and was “recovering well” Wednesday, Durham Fire Department spokeswoman Sierra Jackson said.

Jackson said firefighters were called at 6:38 p.m. to the explosion at Station Nine Apartments, 2211 Hillsborough Road in Durham’s Ninth Street District. They learned that an apartment resident had been injured while trying to cook on the community grill.

Battalion Chief Craig Hoxie said in a report that the explosion happened in the courtyard area, which had an outdoor brick fireplace with two gas grills supplied by four propane cylinders.

Hoxie said the explosion sent the victim about 20 feet across the patio area, and the entire cooking station was destroyed “with brick and grill parts scattered all across the patio area.”

He said windows were broken at one apartment, but maintenance workers were at the scene making immediate repairs.

Hoxie said no tenants were displaced and there was no visible damage to the structure surrounding the courtyard area.

Fire officials said the explosion was an accident caused by trapped propane gas, but it was still being investigated Wednesday.

By Keith Upchurch, Monday 13th February 2012