QUOTE(02loftsmoor @ Dec 3 2011, 03:54 PM)
then someone removed the pop off valve, aka human error
No, but IIRC they figured it must of failed. All the firefighters said it wouldn't explode, after they picked themselves off the ground they saw it up in the air. The tank had flattened right out (ends popped off), came down went though my buddies brand new shop roof and right through a customers boat transom. I saw it the day after, the tank was still stuck in the ground though the transom.
This happened in the early 90's so I can't find a news link to it.
All tanks that size here are rentals (by law I believe), so if the valve was tampered with it was done by the gas company and I'm sure I would have heard about it.