Kia Soul Explodes Due to Compressed Air and Lit Cigarette

A Kia Soul exploded in Gamewell, North Carolina, due to a combination of compressed air and a lit cigarette. The incident occurred on the evening of June 12, when a child in the back seat was playing with a can of compressed air, which contained propane, Isobutane, n-Butane, and Hydrocarbon propellent. The windows were closed, trapping the flammable gases inside the cabin. When the driver lit his cigarette, the lighter ignited the mixture, causing the explosion. Both occupants, including the child, survived, but one was hospitalized for burns. The Gamewell Fire Department responded immediately and investigated the cause of the explosion. It was found that the compressed air can, typically used to clean computer keyboards, was not actually air, but a mixture of flammable gases. The incident highlights the dangers of using such products, especially in enclosed spaces, and the importance of keeping them out of reach of children. The type of compressed air can used in the incident contained HFC-152a, also known as 1,1-difluoroethane, which is flammable and can cause frostbite and suffocation. In contrast, industrial-grade compressed air cans use HFC-134a, which is non-flammable and safer.