Video explodes onto YouTube

A YouTube video depicting a horrifying LPG gas explosion in Newman has taken the Pilbara town – and the internet – by storm.

The amateur clip, captured on a mobile phone and lasting under three minutes, was shot during what appeared to be a routine car fire callout for Newman Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services in the early hours of July 23.

The silhouettes of two fire fighters can be seen inspecting the blaze when at approximately 0:36 of the video a massive fire ball explodes, causing the person holding the camera to turn away. When the camera refocuses the two fire fighters have been pushed back about 4m by the force of the blast and take some time to get to their feet.

Newman VFRS captain Raymond Bonner, on duty the night of the callout, said neither of the volunteers, one aged just 20, suffered significant injury from the explosion but both were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Cpt. Bonner said the more than 1000 views the video had received on YouTube by the time the North West Telegraph went to print had stunned local volunteers.

“When we did learn (the video was on the web) it was something we wanted ourselves … because we do debriefs we wanted to see if there was any learning we could pick up out of it. It was handy in that respect but we didn’t expect it to take off and have the effect it’s had and become so popular,” Cpt. Bonner said.

FESA Pilbara area manager Wayne Cooke said the large explosion featured in the video was due to one of the cars being fitted with an LPG gas tank. He said there was no way either volunteer could have known what was going to happen when they arrived at the scene and both acted within protocol.

“As soon as they realised they were in hazardous situation they took the evasive action … but as they were doing that the thing exploded,” Mr Cooke said.

Capt. Bonner said the two volunteers involved were unfazed by the incident and both had since returned to duty.