Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on July 17, 2008, the
Teaneck Fire Department was dispatched to Hastings Street for a
reported fully involved house after an unknown explosion.
On arrival, Deputy Chief Kearny reported the home had been
completely leveled with heavy fire showing and smoke visible for
miles. The explosion had also set the two homes to the right and
left on fire as well as blowing out numerous windows on at least
3 homes across the street. Pictured in the photos is the door
from the home that was blown across the street. A very large
mutual aid response was required while the blaze was battled
until it was brought under control approximately three hours
later.
The explosion injured two civilians as they were walking down
the street at the time the house blew up. They were treated and
released shortly thereafter. The blast proved fatal for the
66-year-old homeowner who was a well-known part of the
neighborhood. The victim was found amongst the rubble later into
the operation.
While the cause of the explosion is still under investigation,
residents complained for at least a week prior to the explosion
about an odor of gas in the area, leading many to believe that
the cause of the blast was in fact a gas explosion.
-Fire News photos by Chris Saraceno
