Driver suffers minor burns after explosion causes ute fire

By Anna McGuinness

Apr 1, 2022

Traffic blocked: A ute caught fire on Numurkah Rd, Shepparton on Friday, April 1. Photo: Rechelle Zammit.

An exploding gas cylinder is believed to be the cause of a ute fire in Shepparton on Friday, April 1.

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Emergency services were called to the incident on Numurkah Rd near the Balaclava Rd intersection just after 4pm.

Fire Rescue Victoria Shepparton senior station officer Mark Vallance said the driver had already left the vehicle by the time crews arrived and understood they received minor burns.

According to Ambulance Victoria the driver was taken to hospital in Shepparton in a stable condition.

Scorched: The ute was gutted by fire. Photo: Rechelle Zammit.

The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived and Mr Vallance said they found oxygen and acetylene cylinders on fire inside the cabin of ute.

“The driver said one of the cylinders was leaking and they went to turn it off and it exploded,” he said.

Fire crews spent half an hour cooling down the cylinders to remove the heat and make them safe.

Police redirected traffic heading in both directions on Numurkah Rd.