BREAKING: Gas line explosion causes fire in Lakewood; Hundreds evacuated (VIDEOS & PHOTOS)

Firefighters are battling a fire in Lakewood which was reportedly the result of a gas explosion.

The incident occurred shortly after 8 AM in the area of 2nd Street and Forest Avenue, and smoke can be seen for miles.

UPDATE: A 2nd alarm has been toned out, requesting all firefighters to respond.

Buildings in a two-block radius are being evacuated and roads are being shut.

Lakewood is requesting mutual aid from surrounding townships.

UPDATE: A resident who was evacuated tells TLS the explosion was reportedly caused after a tractor struck a gas line.

UPDATE: Lakewood Hatzolah, EMS, Lakewood First Aid and other OEM organizations are assisting with the evacuation efforts.

UPDATE 8:55 AM: The gas line has been shut and the fire has been mostly contained.

UPDATE 9:38 AM: Crews continue to check for gas leaks in the area. Residents not yet allowed back in their homes.

Developing.

Police Commissioner Meir Lichtenstein gives update at the scene.

UPDATE: 11:10 AM. According to sources, the tractor was attempting to dig a trench near a home which had constant flooding, striking the gas line.

https://instagram.com/p/BqFQoOxlQ04/

https://instagram.com/p/BqFPYzNFZrp/

AERIAL PHOTOS PROVIDED TO TLS BY NBC New York.

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28 COMMENTS

  1. Please post the general location so we know where to avoid and/ or offer assistance to people we may know in the area.
    Very unhelpful when you report half stories.

  2. Always remember NOT to park in front of fire hydrants or on yellow lines nearest to corners. We live in a community where there is little room for error when it comes to safety.

  3. fire Was started by anti vaxxers to take some of the “heat” off them! Oh that’s a conspiracy theory?? Anti Vaxxers live and die and kill with conspiracy theories!

    • Sorry, the anti-vaxxers say that vaccines are fire – cause autism, seizeures etc, and that benefits have not been proven. Even if so, they have their own risks – not necessarily better than not vaccinating. It’s a big discussion

  4. I think a better question than “where” is “why” ? We know that a blade of grass does not bend in the wind without Hashem’s Will. So Hashem made this explosion happen. And it is Hashem who protects a person from getting sick, no matter what they do or don’t do.

    Perhaps the heat of machlokes was getting to a conflagratory point in Lakewood, but people were so engrossed in it, that they didn’t notice it – so Hashem sent an explosion to open up our eyes.

    I think it would be a smart idea to “extinguish the flames” – In my opinion lashon hara, vile comments, etc. are much more dangerous than an unvaccinated child. If you really believe in Hashem, He will protect you if you do your hishtadlus – and no more than that. You do your hishtadlus and let the other person do theirs.

    May we only hear besoros tovos, b’ezras Hashem.

  5. Isn’t there a “Look before you Dig” rule and isn’t it common sense ? This is a terrible accident. I feel so bad.
    I used to live in that complex, it’s a place Mulei V’Gudish of Talmidei Chachomim and Marbitzei Torah.
    I hope everyone can get back safe very soon.

  6. I don’t mean this in a not nice way but we shouldn’t be making laytzunus about the vaccines if the vaad of Lakewood said that this is what we should be doing

Comments are closed.