The storms, which contained heavy rains and strong winds, hit the state Tuesday.
The storms also caused property damage across the state.
Neighbors say they heard a loud pop and saw the glow.
That was the transformer blowing and a power line raining down on a /*Paramus*/ Police cruiser.
A photograph captured the fire that seemed to engulf the cop car which was dwarfed by the flames.
Witnesses say the officer escaped unharmed.
It all happened shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday as the storm was moving through northern New Jersey, bringing with it buckets of rain and strong winds.
Then came the power outages. In /*Teaneck*/, utility crews climbed into the sky to repair damaged power lines, even as the howling winds knocked around trees.
For the men and women working to restore electricity, it will be a long night as many homes are without power and so are some businesses.
In Paramus, residents were waiting for the electricity to come back on.
They were watching a tow truck on Farview Avenue haul this police cruiser away, still amazed that the officer who was inside survived.
Paramus Police are now saying that a police cruiser did not catch fire despite eyewitness claims and photographs.
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