Will more ambulances explode? Experts say emergency vehicles could be prone to 'catastrophic' infernos because of oxygen onboard - after 91-year-old was moments from being engulfed by fireball sparked by engine fire

Fire experts have warned that ambulances are prone to 'catastrophic' infernos because of required oxygen cylinders carried in the rear of the vehicles. 

Footage of an ambulance bursting into a fireball just moments after dropping off a 91-year-old patient was widely reported yesterday which sparked fears of other emergency vehicles going up in flames. 

The terrifying incident happened outside of David and Marilyn Brinklow's home in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, on March 14 and they are still traumatized by the visions of the flaming vehicle, which was a three-year-old 2.2-litre diesel Peugeot Boxer van.

The fire is thought to have started in the engine bay before spreading rapidly to the rest of the vehicle and the oxygen tanks, experts said. 

The couple, 69 and 74, were told the van had an 'engine failure' before the vehicle exploded with such force that its roof was ripped off and sent 50ft in the air before smashing through the roof of their garage. 

Now, fire expert Dr Neil Pedersen has said while it is difficult to comment on exactly what happened, he was particularly concerned by what looked to be the explosion of compressed cylinders, which are used to treat people with breathing difficulties, on board the ambulance.

 'It's very difficult for me to comment because I don't know the exact details, but when any cylinder becomes involved it can lead to a catastrophic fire', the chief executive of Fire Containers Limited told MailOnline.

'Every ambulance has oxygen cylinders, they are necessary equipment, but when they become super heated it creates a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, called BLEVE.

'This is when a super heated compressed liquid starts to boil and vapour expands the inside of the cylinder causing it to fail and there is a massive release of pressure.'

Asked what he thinks was the main cause of the explosion, he said it was 'more than likely' the contents inside the ambulance.

'It's unlikely to explode the way it did because of a diesel engine. I've been to many, many diesel fires that don't explode like that.

'Seeing the footage and the way it went up, it's more likely to do with the high pressured cylinders.

'My educated guess by looking at it is that a fire started in the engine department and then it involved the rest of the contents.'

Stuart Masson, who is editorial director of The Car Expert, also said the fire likely started in the engine bay before spreading to the rest of the van. 

He told MailOnline: 'There have been a few reports of similar fires, which like this one have originated from the engine bay area and spread rapidly.

'I'm not sure whether they're any more or less common than other vehicles (there are about 100 vehicle fires every day in the UK, not including arson). 

'Most vehicle fires are the result of something flammable coming into contact with something hot, so it could be a fuel leak where diesel has come into direct contact with the exhaust or other hot engine components.

'Once a fire takes hold like that, it's very difficult to stop as most cars and vans are full of flammable materials. As you saw there wasn't anything they [the fire service] could do to prevent the vehicle burning out completely.' 

Firefighters dashed to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames before they spread to neighbouring properties.

Incredibly, no one was injured in the blast which caused extensive damage to the Brinklow's home and set fire to their garden.

The heat was so intense the back of their Honda Civic melted while their living room windows shattered and their curtains were singed.

Recounting the horrific ordeal, Marilyn said the blaze was similar to a 'volcano'.  

 She said: 'It was like a Hollywood movie. I suffer with my nerves and it didn't do me any good.

'I keep having flashbacks. There was nothing left of the ambulance and all the bits of it like a volcano were flying off like glass and started burning our nets.

'It's horrible to talk about.'

Retired carpenter David said the house suffered smoke damage and the electricity was cut off to the garage.

'It went off like a roman candle. I was shocked - it was like a horror show,' he said.

'It's incredible no one was killed. Our neighbour was in the ambulance a short time before it exploded.

'The heat was so bad the back of our car literally melted. We just want the insurance company to hurry up so we can repair our home.'

The private ambulance company EMED, which provides patient transport, said they were investigating the cause of the explosion.

A spokesperson said: 'On Thursday 14th March 2024, during a routine patient drop-off in Barton Under Needwood the engine of our ambulance caught fire.

'Unfortunately, some of the neighbouring properties suffered damage, which we are now managing through our insurer.

'All our ambulances undergo robust safety checks on a regular basis and our absolute priority is the safety of our patients and the communities we serve.

'We are working closely with the vehicle manufacturer and an independent safety consultant as part of our on-going internal investigation.'

A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 1.10pm on 14 March to reports of a patient transport vehicle, a white Peugeot Boxer, on fire on Captains Lane, Barton-under-Needwood.

'No-one was injured. A car and windows of two nearby properties were damaged.'

A spokesperson for Peugeot told MailOnline they will work with those involved to investigate the incident.

They sad: 'Peugeot takes the safety and wellbeing of its customers very seriously. We will work the vehicle’s owner, and its insurer, to investigate the circumstances around this incident. 

'We would kindly encourage the vehicle owner, or insurer, to contact us on 0800 042 2422 in order for us to be able to support the investigation.'