Firefighters found an unpleasant surprise when they responded to a structure fire Tuesday morning off County Road 454, just east of Clanton.

The blaze at the home started at an adjacent shop where acetylene and oxygen containers were stored.

As the fire progressed, the containers exploded, with at least one shooting into the air higher than surrounding trees.

Clanton Fire Chief David Driver, whose department was among the first to respond, said firefighters were limited in putting out the fire by the danger posed by the gas cylinders.

“There wasn’t a whole lot we could do with it,” Driver said. “That was the first time I’ve ever seen anything like that.”

Driver estimated 20-30 containers exploded during the fire.

The residence was a total loss. No residents were harmed during the incident. Onlookers on the scene said those living at the home were able to get out after the fire started.

Firefighters were dispatched between 8-8:30 a.m. and cleared the scene about noon.

In addition to CFD, East Chilton, Enterprise, Verbena, Cedar Grove and Union Grove fire departments all responded to the scene.

County Road 454 is off Refuge Road, or County Road 32.

Smoke from the fire could be seen at the Chilton County Airport and Interstate 65.