Propane Cylinders Explode in Bratislava Fire, Police Open Investigation

Bratislava, 11 July (TASR) - Propane cylinders exploded during a fire on Ivanska in Bratislava, near the airport, overnight into Saturday, with the explosions triggered by the blaze. No one was injured, Firefighter and Rescue Service regional spokesperson Stefan Koci confirmed to TASR. Police have launched a criminal investigation. Firefighters were called to Ivanska shortly after midnight following reports of a fire affecting part of a building, a waste container area and nearby vegetation. "Before fire crews arrived at the scene, propane cylinders stored in the waste container area exploded. The blast damaged six passenger cars parked nearby," Koci told TASR. During their inspection, firefighters found four propane cylinders in total, two of which had already exploded. They also searched the building's interior and roof and monitored the site using a thermal imaging camera. A fire investigator was also called to the scene. Bratislava regional police spokesperson Lukas Pecek told TASR that police received the report shortly after midnight. "Criminal proceedings have been initiated with respect to the offence of public endangerment. Officers from the Bratislava II District Police Directorate continue to investigate the circumstances of the case," he said. mf