Explosions at Wichita shopping center sent flames 50 feet high, fire officials say

At least two explosions Thursday from propane tanks in south Wichita caused a 50-foot ball of flame to shoot up in the air, the Wichita Fire Department said Friday. A propane tank also was shot 600 feet onto the roof of a nearby house.

Firefighters were called at around 4 p.m. to the South City Shopping Center in the 2800 block of South Hydraulic.

An occupant, who had been burned, took himself to the hospital before firefighters arrived, WFD said in a news release.

It’s unclear the extent of his injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Photos show the majority of damage was to the back of the strip mall outside; there was some damage inside. It also shows damage to the roof of the house where the propane tank landed.

Firefighters were called after the first explosion.

“There was a large explosion toward the rear of the structure that pushed a fireball 50 (feet) in the air,” the fire department said in the release. “As an attack line was stretched, a (second) explosion occurred.”

Firefighters reported that there were multiple, large propane cylinders engulfed in flames in a courtyard area at the back of the building.

“The blast and subsequent fireball caused spot fires to start on the roof of the structure in multiple locations,” WFD said.

Shortly after one of the explosions, firefighters were called to a house fire in the 1400 block of East Salome, which is directly west of the shopping center. Firefighters did not see any smoke or flames when they arrived.

“Upon further investigation, firefighters discovered a 100-pound propane cylinder on the roof of the home,” WFD said, adding that “significant damage was found to the roof where the propane cylinder had impacted the roof.”

That type of propane tank can hold 23 gallons of propane that weigh about 170 pounds when full, the fire department said.

“It was determined the explosion and fire ball witnessed at the fire on Hydraulic was caused by the propane cylinder,” WFD said. “It was estimated the propane cylinder traveled in excess of 600 feet from the rear of the strip mall located on South Hydraulic to its landing place on the roof of the home. The home was unoccupied and no other hazards were found.”