US firefighter is engulfed in a fireball by an exploding car in Indiana but escapes serious injury

A red SUV burst into a towering fireball on US Route 36 near Ronald Reagan Parkway around midday on 2 November, hurling an Avon (Indiana) firefighter backwards and sending them rolling across the tarmac. Full protective gear absorbed the blast, and the firefighter escaped serious injury. The vehicle's driver was already clear of the car when it exploded, and no bystanders were harmed.

Video shared by the Washington Township/Avon Fire Department on Facebook captures the blast swallowing the firefighter in thick black smoke and red flame.

The department said the cause of the fire remains undetermined, with Indiana state law requiring a formal investigation.

Avon Fire described the incident as 'a reminder of the risks our firefighters face every day while serving our community.'