“While applying pressure with the towel, the knob suddenly came off, and gas started rushing out from where the knob had been. Flames burst out violently from the cylinder. At that moment, I was terrified and didn’t know what to do…”
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Yesterday, after I finished at the school where I am currently doing my teaching practice, I decided to visit my uncle. I was warming soup with an electric cooker and boiling water using a gas cylinder. While trying to turn on the gas, I noticed that the gas knob (the part used to adjust the flame) was stiff, making it difficult to increase or decrease the heat. Still, I managed to regulate it.
When the water boiled, I tried to turn off the gas, but the knob wouldn’t respond properly. It was still stiff. So, I used a kitchen towel to grip it and turn it off. While applying pressure with the towel, the knob suddenly came off, and gas started rushing out from where the knob had been. Flames burst out violently from the cylinder.
At that moment, I was terrified and didn’t know what to do. I began praying in the Spirit. Nearby, there was a 20-litre bucket and a drum of water a few meters away. Note that the kitchen is small and has a low ceiling. I ran out and called my uncle immediately. At the same time, I looked for something to drag the gas cylinder out, but couldn’t find anything. Then my uncle found a stick and used it to pull the cylinder out. He went on to pour enough water to extinguish the flames. However, gas was still leaking, so he removed the burner.
One of the witnesses mentioned that the previous day, a similar incident had happened to my cousin—though his case wasn’t as severe. The burner was faulty, and my uncle hadn’t been aware of it. After the incident was under control, my uncle reminded me that he had instructed me to use only the electric cooker, and if I had obeyed, this wouldn’t have happened. Still, I’m thankful to God that my cousin wasn’t injured, nothing happened to me, no electrical connections caught fire as there were exposed wires in the kitchen, and finally, that the house didn’t burn down.
I’m also grateful that God revealed this danger during our night devotion the previous day in the family house. While we were praying, one of our sisters saw a vision of a fire explosion caused by a gas leak. When our house leader was summarising the prayers, I mentioned, “Please pray against a fire outbreak,” along with another request. She prayed briefly, but I had no idea I would be the victim.
I’m thanking God for His mercy. May His name be praised. Amen.
© GAM 2025
