NJ House Explodes With 5 Firefighters Inside, 2 Hospitalized

POMPTON LAKES — A fire on Friday night took a breathtaking turn when the house exploded while five firefighters were still inside.

Miraculously, just two firefighters had to be hospitalized — and both are expected to survive with non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Ramapo Avenue fire on Jan. 14, 2023. (Courtesy West Milford Community Fire Co. 2)

NorthJersey.com reported that the Ramapo Avenue home's resident had been able to get out earlier.

Mayor Michael Serra acknowledged the explosion, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, thanking volunteer firefighters who "put their life on the line for Pompton Lakes."

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Neighboring West Milford Community Fire Co. 2 also offered their support.

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"Just like us Pompton Lakes is 100% volunteer," the company said on Facebook. "These men and women volunteer to help their community and those that travel through it. We ask that everyone keep them in your prayers as well."

Ramapo Avenue fire on Jan. 14, 2023. (Courtesy West Milford Community Fire Co. 2)

Ramapo Avenue is a residential street with two-story Cape Cod homes. On Saturday morning, the house's roof was in the front yard and nothing but the charred remains of the building frame appeared to be standing.

Other details about the fire were not immediately available on Saturday.

How much does the average NJ home cost? Median prices by county

Everything is costing more these days — and housing is certainly no exception in New Jersey.

Data for 2022 from January through August, compiled by New Jersey Realtors, shows that South Jersey has been seeing homes hit the market and sell in less than a month, on average.

Median prices for single-family homes have reached $500,000 and above in nine counties in North and Central Jersey.

All but two counties have seen houses go for more than the list price, on average, this year.