The blast happened just after 7 p.m. Thursday on Continental Court. The fire department arrived within minutes, and quickly doused the blaze.
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Authorities found two men in the rubble of the home. One had fatal injuries and was pronounced dead.
He was identified Friday as 62-year-old Kevin Gilbert, who was a retired Newark police officer. He served on the force from 1990 to 2016.
The second man injured in the explosion remains in critical condition Friday at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center after suffering burns to 90% of his body.
The blast sent people running out of their homes.
"We're trying to conclude that the houses are OK," said South River Mayor Peter Guindi. "The ones to the right and left are not habitable."
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The roof of the home was blown off and landed on the ground almost intact. The walls were blown in all directions.
Every home on the cul-de-sac was shaken by the explosion, sustaining shattered windows or structural damage. Some homeowners were forced to leave their homes indefinitely.
"We were astonished by the debris," said South River resident Sean Maquire. "The explosion was loud."
Arson investigators spent much of the morning sifting through debris to figure out what may have caused the house to explode.
NJ house explosion leave one person dead, another injured
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