VIDEO: House explosion caught on camera
STAFFORD TWP., N.J. -- Video from a police cruiser's dash cam shows the moment a house exploded on Tuesday in Stafford Township, New Jersey, leaving 15 people injured.
The video shows emergency workers already on the scene, responding to a reported gas leak.
Without warning a fireball erupts, throwing a massive amount of debris in the air.
The cruiser even shakes as the shockwave hits.
Authorities were evacuating homes when an officer's dash cam caught the explosion.
"He was returning to his car at the time the explosion happened. Instantly, once the explosion happened he entered his car and pushed the record button knowing the recorder would capture 30 seconds prior," Strafford Township Chief Joe Giberson said.
Among the 15 people who were injured include seven New Jersey Natural Gas workers, six firefighters and two EMTs.
Two of those injured were flown to the hospital and last reported to be in critical condition.
The injuries to four of those victims were described as non-life-threatening.
"We're very blessed and fortunate to have a lot of these guys here. A lot of them are volunteers," said Mayor John Spodofora. "Our fire department and first aid squad were there immediately."
Chief Jack Johnson of the Stafford Twp. Volunteer Fire Department said he had never seen anything like it. He estimates he was just 50 yards from the blast.
"It happened so quickly, the explosion - we had debris all around us, it came from nowhere. It's something you don't expect to happen," said Johnson, who suffered minor injuries in the blast.
"I saw one of my guys get knocked to the ground. It's something I never want to experience again."
"It sounded like a bomb, like a mini earthquake, that's what it felt like," said Max Vanness of West Creek.
New Jersey Natural Gas spokesman Mike Kinney said workers were originally dispatched on Tuesday to investigate a report of a natural gas odor at the scene.
Soon after they arrived, the home exploded.
A number of other homes were also damaged in the blast.
