New Malden and Kingston firefighters helped prevent a potentially lethal explosion in Raynes Park.
Called to a rubbish fire at derelict garages in Crossway just after 8pm on Wednesday last week , they discovered it was close to 47kg of propane cylinders.
Police closed off roads including Crossway and Westway and also Kingsway in Motspur Park, setting up an exclusion zone.
An ambulance was on standby but fire crewssuccessfully tackled the blaze.
Malcolm Elliot, of New Malden Fire Station, said: "There could have been destruction to up to a 200 meter radius."
It's thought the fire may have been started deliberately.
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