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.