Cangzhou, Hebei Province, north China - July 18, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Liquid gas storage tank exploding, flames shooting into air
2. Street view of blast set off by explosion of liquid gas storage tank
3. Debris scattered on road
4. Firefighter removing burning gas tank from building
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shang Wenda, firefighter:
"Arriving on site, we found three spots on fire. We then learned from an insider that there are seven tanks. (Two of) the tanks were on fire. Fearing a second explosion, instructions were given that we should cool them down first, then go inside and take the tanks out after extinguishing the surrounding flames. This would lower the chances of a second explosion and minimize the number of potential casualties. (The leader) called on me and one of my colleagues to get the tanks out."
6. Firefighter running onto open street out with burning gas tank from building
7. Firefighter cooling burning liquid gas storage tank with water hose
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shui Haonan, firefighter:
"We found three rooms on fire after we arrived on site, and that the load-bearing walls had collapsed in the explosion. The burning gas tank was buried under the collapsed walls, and they were engulfed in flames."
9. Firefighters checking explosion site
10. Firefighter cooling burning liquid gas storage tank on street with water hose
11. Firefighters checking explosion site, extinguishing fire

Two firefighters acted bravely to remove two burning liquid gas storage tanks from a building in north China's Hebei Province on Thursday, helping reduce the potential danger to surrounding residents following an earlier explosion.

The accident happened at around 8:00 in Cangzhou City, when a gas tank dramatically went off in a shop neighboring some residential houses. The explosion sent an earthshaking blast out the window, with the flying glass injuring two pedestrians who were passing by the shopfront.

As flames shot into the air, the roof and walls enclosing the tank also collapsed, and debris scattered as far as 50 meters.

Receiving distress calls, the local fire department immediately dispatched three fire engines and an emergency rescue vehicle along with 24 firefighters to the scene.

Having arrived on site, firefighters soon discovered that with several hazardous gas tanks remaining inside the burning building, the danger was far from over.

Shang Wenda, one of the two firefighters who risked his life by entering the unstable building, described the risky operation to get the tanks out.

"Arriving on site, we found three spots on fire. We then learned from an insider that there are seven tanks. (Two of) the tanks were on fire. Fearing a second explosion, instructions were given that we should cool them down first, then go inside and take the tanks out after extinguishing the surrounding flames. This would lower the chances of a second explosion and minimize the number of potential casualties. (The leader) called on me and one of my colleagues to get the tanks out," said Shang.

Shui Haonan, the other heroic firefighter, recalled that retrieving the tanks was no easy task. Because of the first explosion, the two emergency responders had the arduous job of dragging the burning tanks out from under the collapsed walls through a sea of debris.

"We found three rooms on fire after we arrived on site, and that the load-bearing walls had collapsed in the explosion. The burning gas tank was buried under the collapsed walls, and they were engulfed in flames," he said.

The burning tanks were placed out on the open on the cordoned-off street and quickly cooled down with water hoses. The immediate danger was eliminated when the flames on the tanks were put out shortly after 08:33.