[X-spurt]

An “exploding” 250 gallon propane tank would clear a city block.

Betcha the “kid” saw the cars and tank burn, maybe mightily, but explode, probably not. Gas tank in cars should not be able to contain the pressure up to a point of actual explosion. The “exploding car gas tanks we see on TV and in the movies is set off by C4 or dynamite to make a spectacular fireball.

Propane tanks have a safety pressure relief valve that would release to the atmosphere if it was engulfed in fire and make a heck of a flame jetting from the tank.

I’d have to see photos of ripped open propane tanks, not just burned tanks as is usual.

[ansel12]

Clear a city block?

Are you familiar with the 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego?

It was the largest in California history, wiping out entire communities, including that young man's. He and his father had stayed past the evacuation, and his stories were extraordinary, his courage was great as well, I had come from the beach looking for adventure, and had talked the (fleeing) homeowner into fighting for his house and this lad knew his daughter and volunteered to stay with us, although he was still caught up in the emotion of his own near misses in his totally wiped out community, a few miles away.

The fire destroyed almost 3,000 buildings, including 2,232 homes and covered almost 300,000 acres.