How big can a gas cylinder explosion be? According to Derby Telegraph, an acetylene cylinder explosion can create a "fireball of up to 25 metres and throw shrapnel up to 200 metres."

The article describes a recent scene where the area around a farm had to be evacuated because it was discovered that there was an acetylene cylinder in a burning barn on the property.

Given the force generated by a gas cylinder when it explodes, it would seem they made the right decision. Proper care to keep gas cylinders separated from flame is essential to the safety of one's employees. USAsafety.com offers multiple products that include firewall, which creates protection from fire hazards when using fuel and oxygen cylinder combinations.