Takaka's fire chief says a caravan that exploded in Golden Bay at the top of the South Island is a stark reminder to drivers towing themn to ensure all gas bottles are completely disengaged before they travel.
Watch this video from immediately after the explosion
Firefighters were called to Pohara Beach after the caravan burst into flames while parked outside a dairy at 11.18am on Friday. No one was injured
The couple towing the caravan stopped their vehicle outside the dairy on Abel Tasman Drive in Pohara after driving about 30km from Totaranui on an unsealed road.
It is believed the bumpy track may have caused a gas valve to become loose which then ignited once they stopped.
Fire chief Philip Woolf says towing caravans equipped with gas bottles is a risk and all precautions must be taken. He says the couple are lucky they weren't driving at the time of the explosion.
Penguin Bar and Cafe owner Steve Gill said the volunteer fire crew responded quickly and the situation was soon contained.
Manager of Ratanui Lodge Steve Wakeman said the force of the explosion could be felt inside their building next door. He said no one was hurt and, as far as he was aware, there was no damage to his or any other neighbouring building.
An investigation into what caused the gas leak has started.
