A major popular hallmark of the Memorial Day weekend is grilling, and although I’m a lump charcoal guy, some people like propane, and that’s cool, too. It’s fast, convenient, and far less fiddly than charcoal, but propane isn’t exactly inert cargo when you’re transporting a tank or a few. You can probably see where I’m going with this.
Unfortunately, propane tanks can leak if not cared for, and in the closed environment of a car’s interior, a spark can yield wild results. On May 23, one Toyota 4Runner driver in Van Nuys, Calif. reportedly found out the hard way. As CBS News reports:
Firefighters and police rushed to a supermarket parking lot in the 7200 block of Van Nuys Boulevard after receiving a call about an SUV that exploded around 10:30 p.m., police said. When first responders arrived, the man told them he had been trying to light a cigarette when the explosion happened. Investigators said he was living in the vehicle during the explosion.
Thankfully, CBS News reports that the driver escaped with minor injuries, which is astonishing when you take into account the sheer damage and destruction involved. The entire ass end of the 4Runner has been blown apart like a sardine tin with an M80 in it, and the roof is, uh, no longer on the vehicle. Now that’s some serious potency.
This isn’t the first time a leaky propane tank in a car has resulted in proper carnage. In 2023, a Dodge Charger owner lit a cigarette in their car, igniting gas escaping from a propane tank in the rear seat and resulting in a fire that reportedly spread to the nearby house and gave the owner third-degree burns, according to local news channel WSOC-TV.
Now, there are a few way of avoiding or mitigating this. Firstly, by not smoking in your car, your upholstery will thank you and you’re unlikely to turn your ride into the focal point of a Michael Bay scene. Secondly, if you’re carrying a propane tank of unknown condition, maybe keep the windows open. Lighters aren’t the only things that can ignite a gas leak, especially if you drive a certifiable hooptie.
Man lights cigarette inside SUV filled with propane tanks, causing a massive explosion in Los Angeles, California ????
— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) May 24, 2024
The bottom line? Just be smart when it comes to propane tanks in cars. A perfectly seared steak is a mouth-watering proposition, but it’s not worth sacrificing your vehicle for. There’s a certain joy in chowing down on some grub while admiring what’s in your garage, so have a safe and happy car and barbecue season.
(Photo credits: CBS News)
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The post Maybe Don’t Light A Cigarette In A Car Carrying A Propane Tank appeared first on The Autopian.
