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Gas explosion scare

Penny Coles
11/ 6/2007

A GAS explosion was avoided by following strict safety procedures at a long standing business.

There was a fire at Glossop Car and Van Hire when a pipe, connected to an unstable and explosive gas cylinder, ruptured.

The pipe was part of a piece of portable welding equipment used in the vehicle servicing area of the business.

Although only a small fire rigorous safety procedures had to be followed due to the unstable nature of the gas, Derbyshire police cordoned off the area, and two fire engines from Glossop rushed to he scene at just before 9am.

It happened on Friday at the company's base on Dinting Vale Park.

A fire service spokesman said: "Firefighters turned off the gas, and waited for the remaining gas in the cylinder to burn off.

"After several hours of cooling the cylinder was checked with a thermal imaging camera, and firefighters liased with technical experts to ensure it was safe.

"Water was sprayed on the gas cylinder and accompanying oxygen cylinder to ensure both had cooled down sufficiently before firefighters left the scene at around 3pm. "

"All the correct safety procedures had been put in place by Glossop car and van hire.

"All employees were evacuated from the building, and we were told the nature of the problem and were able to start dealing with it very quickly. "

Damage was limited to just a couple of metres of the supply pipe.