By FireRescue1 Staff
LINCOLN, Neb. — Two firefighters were injured following a propane tank blast Sunday afternoon.
KETV.com reported that Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews were called to an apartment complex for a grill fire. The shutoff valve on the propane tank malfunctioned.
“They were done grilling, went to shut it off and the shutoff gauge just free wheeled,” apartment complex owner Randall Johnson said.
Capt. Dean Delaney, a 21-year veteran, said it felt like a bomb went off.
“All I saw was bright orange and I felt a rush of heat and felt the concussion from the explosion,” Delaney said. “Never have I ever experienced or seen anything like this. This was an absolute explosion that could have killed anyone within 10 feet of the thing.”
The two firefighters were 20 feet away when the tank exploded.
“It blew out windows in the apartment we were standing next to, a hole in the side of the garage and blew us back several feet,"Delaney said.
Fire officials said one firefighter suffered partial hearing loss, according to 1011now.com. It’s unclear if the damage is permanent.