Sunfish
I am not going to be drawn into a protracted physics lesson, but will just say that at no point did FE Hoppy mention FUEL exploding. Believe me he is well qualified to speak and is not one of the uninformed masses to which you allude. I suggest you read and digest the following, paying particular attention to the word 'ullage' and references to fuel tank inerting. I believe these are the funerals he refers to. RIP Lads and to the firefighter who lost his life earlier today.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.g...f_hercules.pdf