Homes Evacuated After Possible NJ Gas Blast, Fire: Officials
Multiple buildings were evacuated in an Ocean County, New Jersey, community Monday as crews investigated a report of a fire and gas explosion, officials say.
A call about a two-alarm fire near Second Street and Forest Avenue in Lakewood Township came in around 8 a.m. Monday.
It’s not clear where the blaze originated, but Chopper 4 over the scene showed raging flames leaping from what appeared to be someone’s backyard. That backyard was sandwiched between large trees and other homes.
Fire officials say cops are looking into whether a contractor may have hit a gas line. The flames ebbed once a valve was shut off.
Emergency radio showed a frenzy of activity and concern.
“It looks pretty bad,” one firefighter says at one point.
Another asks if a particular building had been evacuated.
“I’m just trying to hold back the fire at this point,” the first firefighter says.
Minutes later, “Still trying to hold back this fire … I hope we got this building evacuated.”
No injuries were immediately reported.
Local site The Lakewood Scoop reported smoke could be seen for miles.
Photo Credit: News 4
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