Two burned in Orem propane cylinder explosion inside camping tent

A small propane cylinder exploded inside a tent at a campsite near Will's Canyon Stop in Orem on Saturday afternoon, and two people went to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns. The tank was feeding a camping stove when it let go, Orem Fire Department Assistant Chief Shaun Hurst said. The site is at 1565 E. 800 North.

Hurst did not give a cause beyond the stove-and-cylinder setup, and the department said the story would be updated.

A camp cylinder feeding a stove inside a closed tent is a known burn risk. Propane vapor builds up in the enclosed space because it has nowhere to vent, and if it reaches a flame or spark it ignites and burns whoever is inside. That holds for a one-pound bottle or a refillable cylinder.

What to watch

Hurst has not said whether the cylinder failed on its own or the stove connection leaked, and that distinction matters for anyone selling or refilling cylinders in the area. A valve or overfill problem points one way. A user-side hookup error points another.

Watch for the department's update on cause and on the condition of the two injured. If the finding touches the cylinder itself rather than the stove, expect the usual questions about where it was filled and whether it was within date.