KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Firefighters are trying to contain a fire and propane tank explosion Wednesday afternoon near Brancato’s Catering in the area of 51st and Kansas Ave.
At about 3:00 p.m., firefighters were called out to the area, trying to keep the fire away from the building. Fire crews are glad the situation wasn’t any worse than what they dealt with on Wednesday.
Firefighters say they’re not sure what caused the 1,000 pound propane tank to catch fire. Shortly after the first fire, several smaller tanks exploded. The tanks belong to a catering company.
“An explosion from one of those tanks when they rupture can be devastating,” said Craig Duke with KCK Fire. “It’s safer to let it burn off.”
Both Brancato’s and Associated Wholesale Grocers evacuated their buildings as a precaution.
It took about an hour for the fire to burn itself out. As a result of the explosion, the top of one of the tanks was found in the street more than 300 yards from the fire.
One firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion. No one else was hurt.
