Park Fire: Home explodes as wildfire descends on area near Chico

A photojournalist documenting the rapidly growing Park Fire captured the dramatic moment a home exploded in an area dotted with residences. 

Jason Camp said Thursday morning that he was “following the glow” of the fire with several other photographers on Rock Creek Road northeast of Chico when they heard the hiss of what they believed to be propane gas seeping from a storage tank.

“There were some (propane) flare-ups happening just before the explosion,” Camp said. 

Moments later, Camp’s video showed a massive fireball erupt from the house, shooting a plume of fire and smoke into the night sky. 

Credit: Jason Camp/AIO Films

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[Hollerbanger]

I was an evacuee from the camp fire and lost my property, My heart goes out to the people affected by the park fire.

[endstay]

The fire did not explode. The propane tank lines burst, as you can see and hear at the end of the video. This happens in every fire of a home with natural or propane gas unless the lines are shut off before the fire reaches them.

[bobbysolorio]

All those houses have propane tanks makes the fire spread more

[Mannequinwizard-cxvw]

The gas main ? damn oh propane

[MiMiiViVi]

Wow that's sad. How did this one start. They need to get all air craft up there early. And propane tanks are a huge problem as they blow one house after another. Investing in a tank that can withstand high heat and making sure to turn off valves at evacuation help, but really they should be banned in many counties.

[duotronic]

Reporters no longer have practical life experience. Sad.

[oACEo]

propane tank more than likely from a BBQ exploded.