A residential explosion in Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, resulted in the tragic loss of two lives, according to local authorities. The identities of the deceased, a man and a woman, have not been officially released. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday on Tranquility Court, shocking the neighborhood.
The explosion was captured by neighborhood doorbell cameras, showing the house being instantly engulfed in flames around 2 a.m. The footage revealed the rapid response of emergency services, who arrived on the scene within minutes of the blast.
Local authorities described the incident as an “intense fire.” Residents of the quiet neighborhood were jolted awake by the loud explosion, witnessing flames shooting from the house in all directions. Susan Pinto, a neighbor, expressed her fear to local media, stating she had never heard such a loud explosion and was shocked at how quickly the house was reduced to ashes.
Another local resident, Jimmy Gibson, echoed Pinto’s sentiments, expressing disbelief at the speed at which the house was consumed by the fire following the initial explosion. He described the sound of the explosion as a “real loud boom.”
The fire also caused damage to two neighboring houses. Jill Rauf, a resident of one of the affected homes, reported that half of her house’s siding melted due to the extreme heat from the fire.
While the identities of the victims have not been officially confirmed, neighbors believe the man who perished in the fire was a well-liked member of the community, often seen walking his dog around the neighborhood.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Authorities have yet to confirm any details regarding the origin or cause of the explosion.