During the May Day holiday, two families in Beijing, China experienced an unexpected incident while barbecuing outdoors. A cartridge stove suddenly exploded during use, causing varying degrees of injuries to 7 people, several of whom sustained severe burns requiring hospitalization.
According to what the incident’s party told the media, the cartridge stove had only been purchased a month ago, and this was only its second use. "The explosion was without warning, and it’s surprising that such a small gas canister could cause so many injuries."
Cartridge stoves (portable butane gas stoves) are widely used for outdoor barbecues and simple cooking due to their lightweight and portability. However, if improperly used, these appliances can easily cause explosions and other safety accidents. Fire departments have simulated gas canister leakage scenarios for testing. Results show that in the case of a leak, the cartridge stove can explode violently within 3 minutes of ignition, with the gas canister capable of being blasted ten meters away.
Similar incidents have occurred frequently in China earlier, such as on April 6, when a stove exploded during an outdoor barbecue in Shijiazhuang, fortunately causing no injuries. On March 4, a residential building in Guiyang caught fire due to a cartridge stove explosion, and the fire department promptly rescued the trapped residents. On February 25, a sausage stall exploded in Henan, though there were no casualties, the incident drew attention.
Moreover, cartridge stoves should not be used in confined spaces, high-temperature environments, or near flammable materials. Windy conditions, open flames, or in areas exposed to hot air also pose high-risk environments and should be avoided.