The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Man saved from car after huge explosion
People in neighbouring houses describe blast like earthquake
Houses shook as a car dramatically exploded into flames in Kirkcaldy yesterday.
Brave locals pulled a man from his burning car as the huge blaze engulfed the vehicle.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics but remarkably escaped serious injury during the lunchtime emergency.
People in neighbouring homes in Macindoe Crescent described the blast as being like an earthquake amid unconfirmed reports it was caused by an exploding gas cylinder in the car.
Darren Hepburn said: “I felt the house shake and heard a loud bang.
“Apparently there was a gas tank in the back that blew up and started the whole thing.”
A man was pulled from his burning car after a dramatic explosion which caused houses to shake.
Brave members of the public rushed to the driver’s aid as the vehicle was engulfed by flames in Macindoe Crescent, close to St Marie’s Primary School in Kirkcaldy, at lunchtime yesterday.
He was pulled from the burning vehicle seconds after the blast, described by locals as being like an earthquake, and treated by paramedics at the scene.
Remarkably, he was not seriously injured.
Neither police nor the fire service could confirm reports the fire was caused by an exploding gas cylinder within the Kia Sportage.
Darren Hepburn, whose home overlooks the site of the blaze, said: “I felt the house shake and heard a loud bang.
“I ran to the window and saw the back of the car on fire and a few guys pulling out an older guy. Thankfully, he was okay.
“Apparently there was a gas tank in the back that blew up and started the whole thing.”
Darren said that by the time the fire service arrived the car had rolled several metres down the street and crashed into a bus stop.
“The area had been cleared out by then. It had been on fire for about five minutes before it rolled,” he said.
“The police weren’t letting anyone leave their houses until they knew the tank was dealt with.”
A huge plume of thick, black smoke could be seen over much of Kirkcaldy at the height of the drama, which left the white car a blackened, burned out shell.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said they were alerted at 1.19pm to reports of a car on fire.
“Two fire appliances were immediately dispatched to the scene and firefighters used powerful water jets to extinguish the fire,” she said.
“One casualty was treated at the scene by paramedics and crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”
Police remained there for several hours afterwards to investigate the cause of the blast.