This video shows the dramatic moment a car's gas system exploded in a huge ball of fire in Davoren Park, in Adelaide's northern suburbs. Courtesy: Jakub Jakub

A MAN has suffered serious burns after his car exploded when an LPG tank caught fire at Davoren Park.

The man was lucky to escape his Ford 4WD which caught fire on Peachey Rd just after 10am.

Witnesses who rushed to the scene were fortunate to also escape injury when the vehicle exploded, sending debris hurtling 200m (See the blast at 25 seconds in the video, above).

The explosion sparked a fire in the median strip and in a neighbouring backyard, which residents

doused with garden hoses before MFS crews arrived.

The incident happened outside the Aidsa community centre, where dozens of people were enjoying a Christmas breakfast.

Jakub Jakub filmed the fire and huge explosion on his mobile phone.

“After the first explosion the guy was running from the car and then the second explosion happened a minute or two after,” Mr Jakub said.

“It was huge, the whole building was shaking and the tree above the car caught fire, and people

were trying to help put the fire out.”

Local resident Dale Adey came to the scene after hearing a “loud boom”.

“I came out instantly and the fire raced up here, I tried to get to the car but couldn’t because it was too hot,” Mr Adey said

He said a piece of the car came flying towards a family standing about 150m from the blast.

“It sent massive pieces of metal flying, I protected one girl and it hit a bloke in the leg because he got in front of it to protect a boy,” Mr Adey said.

A woman, who did not want to be named, said she heard the blast from her home about 1km away.

“I couldn’t believe it was all the way over here, I thought someone had blown something up in the burnt-out house next door,” she said.

Another resident said the driver had burns to his face and hands and told witnesses that he was

meant to have his grandchildren in the car at the time.

An SA Ambulance spokesman said the male driver — who managed to escape the blaze before emergency services arrived — was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital with “significant burns”.

An MFS spokeswoman said the damage bill was expected to be $20,000 — $10,000 for the car and $10,000 to the road.

She also reminded people to get their LPG car cylinders checked regularly.

The man has been taken to Royal Adelaide hospital with “significant burns”.