Large explosion, fire reduces abandoned home to rubble in Westfield
WESTFIELD (WABC) -- An overnight explosion rocked a neighborhood in New Jersey when a home in Westfield exploded and burst into flames.
The house on Tudor Oval was unoccupied at the time of the explosion and no one was hurt.
The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Monday.
The sound shook neighboring homes and brought area residents out of their own houses. Neighbors said they saw the home engulfed in a ball of flames and debris shooting into the air.
"We heard a loud boom explosion. It sounded like a car exploded out front so we came out front to look at it," an area resident told Eyewitness News. "We saw flames and a neighbor screaming 'It's a fire, it's a fire. Call 9-1-1."
Nearby powerlines and trees caught fire as flames escaped the burning home.
The Westfield Police Department along with the town's rescue squad worked to evacuate surrounding homes in the area.
According to neighbors, the home has been abandoned for the last 15 years. An elderly couple previously occupied the home and passed it to their son who did not maintain it.
A spokesperson with Elizabethtown Gas said they are working on site with emergency officials and their top priority is the continued safety of employees and the community.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
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