Gas Explosion Kidmans Camp 18/May/2015

Evening Everyone,

We were in Kidmans camp for the last two nights and preparing to head off this morning.

At about 4pm yesterday afternoon I was sitting outside our van when I felt and heard an almighty explosion. It was heard all over the camp. I raced to the scene fearing the worst but prepared to do what I have been trained to do.

About 15 others also converged on the scene and what we saw was this:

A couple towing a caravan had arrived about an hour prior to the incident and set up. The husband smelt gas and went to shut off the gas cylinder, as he was doing this his partner opened the oven and hit the electric igniter(perhaps accidentally) which set off the leaking gas. The explosion was mostly contained within the kitchen cupboards but has caused significant damage to the caravan.

The partner was fortunately uninjured but is in a state of shock.

The caravan door was blown off the van completely, the outside of the van at the kitchen cupboard level is substantially bulged outwards and the benchtop was blown upwards. The cupboard doors were mostly splintered.

The Police, Ambulance and Rural Fire service were all in attendance in a very short timeframe.

I suppose the lesson can can be learned from this is to check your gas system for leaks at every service interval. The caravan is a late model one.

I do not know exactly what was leaking or why. These two people are extremely lucky to be alive and I give thanks for that.

Please take care out there.