Car explosion rocks nearby houses

By Kath Gannaway
AN EXPLOSION in Launching Place, described as “one hell of a bang” had nearby residents rushing into the street on the night of Sunday 28 September.
“The whole street went out to see what was happening,” said one Mail reader who added that the walls of her brick house trembled like there was an earth tremor.
“The lady across the road is in a weatherboard house and she was visibly upset because her house shook so much,” she added.
Senior Constable Ben Aulich confirmed the explosion was the result of a car fire at Wickhams Road Reserve in Launching Place. The car, a VL Commodore, had been deliberately set on fire.
Rick Shaw, captain of Hillcrest CFA, said the brigade was called out at 9.13pm and he saw the explosion at Wickhams Road Reserve as he drove to the fire station.
“There may have been an initial small explosion when the car ignited but as I drove up I saw a huge red glow which would have been the LP gas cylinder exploding causing the massive blast,” he said.
Mr Shaw said the explosion was felt as far away as the Launching Place Hotel and in Don Valley several kilometres away.
“The explosion ripped the entire roof off the car and hurled it about 80 metres. The boot blew off in a separate direction and landed about 30 metres away,” he said.
He said it was fortunate that no-one was near the vehicle at the time, including fire-fighters.
He said while gas cylinder explosions are not common when they do occur there is an enormous explosive force.
“When an LPG cylinder bleves (explodes) it can be extremely destructive and dangerous,” Mr Shaw said.
In a normal fire the gas vents, avoiding an explosion but Mr Shaw said where a tank is in a confined space and the cylinder itself heats up the chances of an explosion are increased.
“The tank exploded within a minute and a half of us getting the call out, which was fortunate because the one number plate we were able to find didn’t have ‘LP Gas’ on it which is the warning for us to approach more carefully,” he said.
Mr Shaw said the incident was a warning also for on-lookers to stay well away from the scene of a fire.
“The oval was like a big drive-in movie with all the people up on the oval but in any car fire there is a risk so the message is just stay back and call 000.”
He said if anyone had been close, with metal flying around, there could have been serious injuries.
Sen Const Aulich said police investigations are continuing into the circumstances around the fire.
Anyone with information can phone Yarra Junction police on 5967 1104.