Thanks for these helpful words of clarification! As I commented above, I was rather sloppily using the words "explosion", "detonation" to mean flash and boom.

Thanks for these helpful words of clarification! As I commented above, I was rather sloppily using the words "explosion", "detonation" to mean flash and boom. On the two occasions on which I witnessed this event, it was stunningly powerful but I now believe most likely just a deflagration.