Two volunteer firefighters were hurt in a house explosion in Pompton Lakes early Saturday morning, borough officials said.
After spotting smoke coming from a residential area at approximately 2:04 a.m. Saturday, members of Pompton Lakes Fire Department, a volunteer organization in Passaic County, responded to the scene of a house fire in the area of Ramapo Avenue and Riverdale Road, according to a statement posted on the fire department’s Facebook page.
Crew members had barely entered the home when, “seconds later, the house exploded,” the fire department said.
“I literally sat down in bed, went to go put my feet up and heard the explosion,” neighbor Shirley Jobes said. “I immediately jumped back up, looked out the window, and I saw pieces of the roof on fire up in the air and falling back down.”
Five Pompton Lakes firemen were inside the home when the explosion occurred, said Mayor Michael Serra in a statement posted to Facebook.
Two of the firefighters were sent to St. Barnabas Burn Center for non-life-threatening injuries. The men were treated and later released, the fire department said.
Three firefighters sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene and released.
“Everyday our volunteer organizations put their life on the line for Pompton Lakes,” Serra said. “We all appreciate it.”
The incident is under investigation by the State Fire Marshall and PC CSI, the fire department said.