General Discussion

Hi there Meg... As a young firefighter in New Zealand in the 1980's I learned of the Doxol LPG Explosion and resulting carnage. From this we were taught to have a seriously healthy respect for all liquified petroleum gas (LPG). A colleague recently passed through Kingman on a holiday tour of your fine country and raised the event with me after visiting the memorial gardens. The training I was given, and the carnage of this event came flooding back after all these years. This training that came from the disaster, and the unique properties of LPG embedded a knowledge that has remained with me to this day, and as I age, make every effort to pass on to young firefighters. A key point not mentioned in the podcast and mostly unknown by most is that the liquid phase in these tanks expands dramatically upon release. As it changes from a liquid to a gas it expands 270 times. In other words, one (litre or gallon) will expand creating 270 litres (or gallons) of gas. The BLEVE that occurred must have been unbelievably devastating in the immediate area and of course a very long -term and tragic scar on the neighbourhhood in general. When a tank ruptures in this way, it is then where the rapid expansion spreads as it did in Kingman, and progressively ignites. So much has been learned in the firefighting fraternity as a result of Kingman, it can be said that whilst incredibly tragic for all directly, and indirectly who have been scarred in some way, has certainly not been in vain. An excellent piece of investigative journalism Meg, and for those you have touched during the making of the podcast I am sure you will have helped with some closure for those who carry the wound. A kind wish from downunder in New Zealand to all who suffered, and those who have endured something from this event. Ken

I have just finished listenening to the PodCast...EXCELLENT. Thank you. This came about as this past week I was privilaged to meet on of the survivors and his wife whilst on vacation in Mexico. Thank you again for sharing this tragic story, not sure why there has never been more National Coverage.

Thank you for putting together this podcast. My husband and his sister were both burned when they stopped at a gas station in Kingman. My husband has always been disappointed there wasn’t much out there to show what he went through. I believe your podcast will help to heal his PTSD.

Thank you for all your hard work on this production and keeping this story alive, may we always remember those that suffered and gave their lives.