Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal – November 20, 2025
A 24-year-old man was injured on Wednesday afternoon when an explosion occurred while he was burning household refuse outside his residence on Casper Crescent in Trenance Park, Verulam.
The incident took place shortly before members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), a private emergency response organisation operating in the greater Verulam area, were called to the scene. Upon arrival, reaction officers found the man had already sustained visible burn injuries and was in pain but conscious and able to communicate.
According to the information provided directly by the victim to the responding RUSA members, he had gathered various items of household waste and placed them in a pile in his yard for burning – a common practice in some residential areas where municipal refuse collection may be irregular or where residents dispose of excess rubbish independently. He ignited the fire and remained nearby as the flames grew. As the fire intensified and began consuming the mixed contents of the pile, an unexpected and sudden explosion erupted from within the burning material.
The blast caused immediate injuries to the man, who was standing close to the fire at the time. He suffered moderate burns to his right hand, with redness, blistering, and pain reported in the affected area. Additionally, he sustained minor burn injuries to his right leg, likely from heat or flying debris. No shrapnel wounds or other traumatic injuries were reported, and the victim did not lose consciousness or require immediate hospitalisation for life-threatening conditions.
RUSA paramedics who are stationed with the reaction teams assessed the injured man on site and provided immediate first aid treatment. This included cooling the burnt areas with sterile water or saline to halt the burning process, applying appropriate burn dressings to protect the wounds from infection, and administering pain relief as required. The cooling and dressing of burns in the first few minutes after an incident is critical in reducing the depth and severity of tissue damage.
The exact cause of the explosion has not been officially determined, but the circumstances point to the presence of a pressurised or volatile item within the refuse pile. Common household items that can explode when exposed to fire include aerosol cans (such as deodorant, spray paint, or insecticide), small gas cylinders, lithium-ion batteries from electronic devices, or even sealed containers holding flammable liquids. When heated, the pressure inside such items builds rapidly until the container ruptures violently, creating a blast capable of causing injury to anyone nearby. Residents are repeatedly warned not to burn refuse containing unknown or potentially hazardous materials, yet such incidents continue to occur in many South African communities.
Fortunately, in this case, the explosion was not of sufficient force to cause structural damage to the property or neighbouring homes, and no other persons were injured. The fire itself was extinguished shortly after the blast, either by the victim or by neighbours who came to assist before professional help arrived.
The injured man was stabilised on scene and, after receiving first aid, was able to remain at home. He was advised to seek further medical attention at a clinic or hospital if the pain increased or if signs of infection developed in the coming days. Cases of this nature highlight the risks associated with open burning of household waste, particularly when the contents of the rubbish have not been carefully sorted.
Trenance Park, like many established townships north of Durban, experiences periodic challenges with refuse removal backlogs, especially after public holidays or during periods of industrial action affecting municipal services. Some residents resort to burning waste as a quick disposal method, unaware of or unable to identify dangerous items that may have been discarded among ordinary rubbish.
Safety officials and fire prevention campaigns regularly emphasise that aerosol cans, batteries, electronics, and any pressurised containers must be disposed of separately and never placed in fires. Local authorities encourage the use of designated recycling points or waiting for official collection services rather than resorting to uncontrolled burning.
This incident serves as a practical reminder of how everyday household items can become hazardous when exposed to heat. While the 24-year-old man’s injuries are not considered life-threatening, the burns to his hand may require ongoing care to prevent complications and ensure proper healing.
Reaction Unit South Africa, which responded promptly to the call, continues to provide 24-hour emergency medical and security services to communities in Verulam, Tongaat, oThongathi, and surrounding areas. The organisation urged residents via its public channels to exercise extreme caution when burning refuse and to immediately dial emergency numbers if an incident occurs.
As of Wednesday evening, no further updates on the victim’s condition have been released, and the matter is not under active police investigation as it is regarded as an accidental domestic incident.
