Tank blows up in Kennett, lands 100 feet away

KENNETT, Mo. (KBSI) – Firefighters responded to a the scene of a fire Wednesday.

An old fuel tank blew up and landed 100 feet away inside a large shop building, according to Fire Marshal Dennis Hamlett with the Kennett Fire Department.

It happened at 1:03 p.m.

The Kennett Fire Department was dispatched to a grass fire threatening a structure located on Hwy 153. Firefighters from Malden, Clarkton and Senath assisted Kennett firefighters with the fire.

When firefighters arrived, they found a large grass fire and several items on fire around a large shop area.

Shortly after firefighters arrived on scene, a large tank (approximately 3000 galloons) exploded.

Fire Chief Lance Davis with the Kennett Fire Department says the end of the tank blew off sending it into the top of the nearby shop and landed in the shop close to the front doors.

Hamlett says he believes the cause of the fire was from someone throwing a cigarette out the window as the drove by. It started a field fire which spread to fuel tank and shop building.

An occupant said the tank had been unused for several years and did not know what it was used for, but that it was empty.

After the explosion, a vacant trailer nearby caught on fire along with a row of farm equipment.

Chief Davis says winds played a huge factor in the fire as the winds were out of the south at 25-30 miles per hour.

No injuries were reported.

Clarkton, Malden and Senath Fire Departments assisted in the fire along with Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office.

This is the fifth working fire in three days for the Kennett Fire Department.

Crews were at the scene for about four hours.