Tuesday, February 24, 2015

NEW JERSEY HAS ONE OF THE OLDEST GAS INFRASTRUCTURES THAT PRESENT HIGHER RISK OF LEAKS/EXPLOSIONS/FIRES: NATURAL GAS LINE EXPLOSION DESTROYS NEW JERSEY HOME; 5 GAS COMPANY WORKERS INJURED, 1 CRITICALLY, 2 HAD TO BE MEDEVACED











FEBRUARY 24, 2015

STAFFORD TWP., OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY (CBS/AP/ABC)

 New Jersey has one of the oldest gas infrustuctures in the nation with many miles of old cast iron pipes that have past their useful lifetime.  Many of them leak like sieves, and it is only a matter of time until we have higher frequency of explosions and fires due to natural gas leaks.

A gas explosion that leveled an Ocean County, New Jersey, home and left five gas company workers hurt Tuesday morning shook homes in every direction including one of a young mother.  Stafford Township police had earlier advised residents that there was a gas main break at the intersection of Route 9 and Oak Avenue on Tuesday.

"My windows blew out of my house, and I dropped, and I covered my daughter, because she was next to me," said Stafford Township resident Melissa Lewis. "I stood up, and I heard them screaming outside, and there were people being taken to the ambulance."

Gas crews were working on a gas main leak diagonally across from Lewis' home along Oak Avenue near U.S. Route 9 in the Cedar Run neighborhood of the township around 10:30 a.m. when the blast occurred.

"The house has been disintegrated," said Stafford Township Mayor John Spodofora.

New Jersey Natural Gas workers had just arrived on the scene at the time of the blast, said spokesman Mike Kinney.  Five of those workers suffered injuries.
One suffered extremely critical injuries and required CPR at the scene, said Spodofora.  Medics medevaced at least two of the injured to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's Trauma Unit, said police.

Lewis was preparing to get her two children out of their home and into her car after learning of the leak next door. She never got to the car. Lewis eventually walked out of the blast zone — her children and herself unharmed.

"I saw pieces of house floating all over my yard," she said. "The insulation was all over the place and you could see the ambulances and people running around and there were big flames coming from the house."

As SkyForce10 hovered over the scene, debris could be seen scattered all over the place as some trees in the area burned. Only the home's foundation remained.

At least one nearby home also appeared to be damaged by the blast. The blast could be felt up to one mile away, said officials.

Police urged people to avoid the area.  About 75 home in the area were evacuated due to safety concerns, said police Capt. Tom Dellane. All schools in the area were dubbed safe.

Police closed Route 9 as crews actively worked to correct the gas main break.
"The gas is kind of hanging in there," said Spodofora.

Gas crews first became aware of the leak shortly before 9 a.m. and homeowners from Perkins Lane down to Route 9 were evacuated, said officials.
Spodofora urged residents who smell gas in their homes to open all their windows, report it to police and leave the area immediately.

"We are trying to make sure everyone will be safe," said Spodofora.
The Marlton Area Office of OSHA headed to the scene Tuesday after to investigate exactly what caused the blast.