Interesting extension to the
Screwfix thread:
Pictures of the exploding cylinder:
NewBury - UK
Roof blown off house and then brought back down on to the bungalow after hot water tank causes explosion
A HOME in Pamber Heath was wrecked this afternooon (Monday) after the roof of the bungalow was lifted by the force of an explosion.
Firefighters from Tadley and Basingstoke rushed to the scene at 12.10pm, after what was though to be a gas explosion at the private bungalow in Silchester Road.
It was later discovered to be caused by an electric hot water tank.
Luckily no-one was at home at the time and no-one was hurt.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the explosion had caused extensive damage to internal and external walls and the roof.
Hampshire fire spokesman, Mark Jones, who attended the scene, said the bungalow was now "uninhabitable" following damage to internal and load bearing walls.
"The roof was blown off and came back down on the house, as all the tiles were loose," he said.
"And there's a big outwards bow in one of the outside walls."
According to Mr Jones the cause was an electric hot water tank, which got "hotter and hotter" after an emersion heater had been left on, with the water turned off.
Incident commander, Tony Evans of Basingstoke Fire Station, decided not to the evacuate the surrounding properties, which were not damaged in the blast.
He said he was confident there would be no more explosions.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Urban Search and Rescue team, which is trained to rescue people from collapsed buildings and to stabilise unsafe structures, was put on standby but not required.
