RESIDENTS of a southern Melbourne suburb were rudely awoken by an exploding plumber's van early today.
The explosion occurred when two apprentice plumbers turned up and activated a remote control lock on the van in Dunscombe Place, Chelsea Heights.
The indicators flashed and the car exploded.
Country Fire Authority fire officer Greg Christison said it received calls from residents about a large explosion just after 6am.
When they arrived on the scene they found a plumber's van in flames in the driveway of a home in the suburban street.
Several homes surrounding the explosion were extensively damaged and some residents were evacuated from their homes as the CFA brought the blaze under control.
Mr Christison said nearby houses suffered structural damage, windows were blown out and doors and roof tiles damaged. Debris were found 50 metres from the explosion.
Mr Christison said it was amazing no one was injured.
"People we have spoken to have reported they were awakened to a loud explosion. It would have been a fairly loud bang given the amount of debris strewn about the place," he said.
"As I have said we're very fortunate no one was actually injured as a result of this."
He said the CFA and police were investigating the cause of the explosion.
Police did not believe the explosion was suspicious, Kingston Police Inspector Neil Paterson said.
"It is very unusual for these sorts of things to occur," he said.
It is believed one or two canisters containing oxy acetylene gas, which is used for welding, and that were located in the back of the van, may have leaked and caused the explosion.
"If our arson and explosives investigators can determine that as the cause of the explosion, then Worksafe will also look at the causes," he said. "There are regulations around the safe storage of oxy acetylene."
Dunscombe Place remains blocked off with no one allowed to come or go as police continue their investigation. At least seven houses have suffered extensive structural damage with debris from the van landing on roofs and windows broken.
The only part of the van left was the chassis, Insp Paterson said
