A man has been taken to hospital with burns following a fire at the rear of a Goulburn home on Wednesday morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police said the 47-year-old suffered burns when two gas bottles exploded at the back of the Victoria Parade home, off Verner Street, about 11.40am. The explosion sent black smoke plumes into the air.
The man had been preparing to load the bottles onto the back of a vehicle for transport to Canberra to be re-certified at the time.
"Something has ignited them, causing what looks to be minor burns to the man and a shed to be destroyed," Chief Inspector John Sheehan said.
The extent of damage to another shed is not known at this stage. Police said there could have been some minor damage to the rear of the house as well.
The man's parents, who were inside the house at the time, were not injured.
Two ambulances, Fire and Rescue NSW and Essential Energy also attended the scene, the latter to cut electricity to the home.
The home owner told the Goulburn Post he was sitting inside his back room when he heard the explosion.
"I don't know what made the bottles blow (but) all of a sudden the back door blew in," he said.
"The young bloke [his son] is burnt pretty bad."
The rear of the truck was also burnt and the owner was awaiting to hear of any damage to his house.
He said 45-litre bottles, used to power his vehicle, had to be re-dated and his son was loading them on the back of the vehicle at the time.
Verner Street resident Alexandra Greaves rushed down Victoria Parade, concerned for her friend.
"We were sitting inside and heard the explosion. It felt like an earthquake," she said.
"I looked outside and saw a big puff of smoke, saw the fire and then heard a man screaming.
"I grabbed some rags and towels because he was so afraid the fire would get into the house.
"He wouldn't leave it even though he had burns."
Police are still investigating the fire's cause. NSW Fire and Rescue also remain at the scene.