The broken cable caused an explosion but nobody was injured in an incident that officials said could have been much worse.
Reports said gas leaked from the cart and exploded, sending a large fireball shooting over the head of the operator. Firefighters arrived to find the acetylene tank burning. They let the acetylene burn off to decrease the pressure before extinguishing the fire.
Sheboygan Fire Department shift commander Daniel Pitsch said: “Fortunately, the oxygen tank on the torch cart was not compromised. If it had been, we more than likely would have had a significant explosion.”
Reports added that five fire department vehicles were on the scene within around 50 minutes. Damage was estimated at $3,000 to $5,000.
