An explosion demolished a home in Westfield, New Jersey, overnight, scaring the entire neighborhood as the fire completely collapsed the house.
Firefighters rushed to the house on Tudor Oval after receiving a report of the explosion around 10:30 p.m. on Monday. Footage from the scene showed intense flames erupting from the house while firefighters worked to extinguish them. Consequently, the explosion shook neighboring homes and drew residents into the streets.
“We heard a loud boom. It sounded like a car exploded out front, so we came out to look,” neighbor Maria Logrippo revealed to Fox 5 NY. “We saw flames and a neighbor screaming, ‘It’s a fire, it’s a fire. Call 911.'” Neighbors reported seeing the house engulfed in flames and debris flying into the air.
Moreover, nearby power lines and trees also caught fire due to the intense heat. Fortunately, the house on Tudor Oval was unoccupied at the time of the explosion, and no injuries were reported.
Local residents claim the house had stood abandoned for many years. Originally, an elderly couple owned the property and passed it down to their son, but he failed to maintain it.
On Tuesday morning, Firefighters continued to extinguish what remained of the home. The explosion blasted the front of the house and its contents onto the front lawn.
Authorities are diligently working to determine the cause of the Westfield house explosion. For now, the cause remains unknown.
About the Author/s
Alondra Cabrera is the Editorial Assistant at New Jersey Digest. She recently graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies. During her time at school, she discovered her passion for journalism and content creation. In her free time, she loves to create and edit videos for her corgis, Rafi and Toffe, and indulge in culinary adventures with her friends. Alondra also enjoys traveling, cooking, and working out. She is excited to embark on her professional journey in media and looks forward to contributing her skill and creativity to her role here at New Jersey Digest.