Biodiesel tank explosion sparks alley fire | 911

A biodiesel tank exploded inside a private garage on Tuesday, sparking a fire that traveled down the adjacent alley.

A Tacoma fire spokesperson said the tank was inside a detached garage of a private home in the 3500 block of S. 13th St.

"All of a sudden, I heard an explosion and it shook my windows and all I could see was black smoke," said Peter Variety.

The explosion caused the fuel to spill over into a nearby alley, paving the way for flames to reach nearby projects. A nearby garage and a parked recreational vehicle were charred, and several nearby homes were also damaged by the heat.

The blaze has been extinguished, and the cause of the explosion has not been determined.

There are no reports of injuries.

Home bio-diesel plants are legal, but there are limits and permits are required.  The fire department is checking to make sure the owner had all the permits he needed.