House explodes in Pompton Lakes with 6 firefighters inside: It 'blew the roof right off'

POMPTON LAKES — Six firefighters were inside a Ramapo Avenue home battling a blaze when an explosion occurred that "blew the roof right off" shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday morning, destroying the house and injuring the firefighters.

None of the six firefighters suffered life threatening injuries, though two were transported to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston to be treated for burns. They were later released. The other four were treated on scene, Pompton Lakes fire official John Keating said.

“We were blessed,” Keating said when asked how nobody died.

The middle-of-the-night fire was called in by a police patrol driving down Riverdale Avenue when officers spotted smoke in the area of Ramapo Road.

Police were able to evacuate the lone resident of the house — a light colored, single-story Cape Cod-style home on the corner of Riverdale and Ramapo — who told officials he didn't know how the fire started.

The house was inundated with smoke when firefighters arrived, Keating said. A team of three firefighters entered the home and proceeded to the basement, where they believed the fire was.

Another team of two went in behind them, along with the assistant chief. A total of six firefighters were in the building, Keating said.

Once fire crews got in, it was less than a minute before the building exploded, Keating said.

“I thought we were going to have six fatalities, I really did,” Pompton Lakes Fire Chief Jason Ekkers said. “They managed to climb out of the basement with compromised stairs. They all helped each other out, they came out one at a time and we were at the back door, just feeding them out.”

Mayor Michael Serra said the explosion “blew the roof right off.”

“This is what our volunteer departments do,” Serra said. “We have a patrolman who caught first sight of the fire, then had our volunteer fire department here within minutes. Unfortunately there was an explosion. These gentlemen are putting their lives on the line as volunteers everyday here in Pompton Lakes."

Keating said they have not yet determined what caused the explosion, though the state Division of Fire Safety was on site Saturday. Public Service Electric & Gas responded to the scene at 3 a.m. and shut the natural gas line off at the curb.

"An investigation is underway so we can't speculate on a cause," said PSE&G spokesperson Rebecca Mazzarella.

The fire was brought under control by 3:30 a.m., with firefighters from Pompton Lakes, Riverdale, Pequannock, Wanaque and Bloomingdale responding.

The house cannot be salvaged, officials said. Excavating machines were on site Saturday.

Olivia Alvarez, 17, saw it unfold from her bedroom across the street. She was about to go to sleep when she saw smoke as she looked out her second-floor window.

“I just saw smoke from the backside of the house, I thought it was a car or something. There was only a couple cops here. But a little later, I just saw it all explode" said Alvarez. "It came from the bottom of the house, up. The whole house lifted off the ground, then hit the ground again. The entire house, in one piece.”

Alvarez's mother Tracy said the explosion knocked pictures off the wall in their home. The house burst into flames immediately after the explosion, she said. The family went outside and stood in the front yard in time to see the resident's dog running away and a police officer catch it.

Neighbor Kim Forsyth didn’t hear the boom because she sleeps with earplugs. But her two kids heard it and felt the house shake.

“My daughter was horrified and terrified,” Forsyth said. “She was having a heart attack, screaming. She couldn’t figure out what it was.”

When Forsyth walked out of the house, she saw police cars down the street and then flames burst from the house. Firefighters were trying to protect the homes of the immediate neighbors.

Officials have not released the name of the resident. Neighbor Sam Terhune said the homeowner is “a friendly guy” who lived with his mother and always comes out to pet Terhune’s dog when they are out walking.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started for the occupant under the title “Home explosion expenses for Tom Garrett.”

"This home belonged to my grandmother who passed away on Dec. 23, 2022,” wrote organizer Amy Azcurra. “My uncle was still living in the home but luckily got out before the explosion.”

The Pompton Lakes Volunteer Fire Department thanked everyone for "thoughts and prayers" on its Facebook Saturday afternoon. Throughout the morning, neighboring fire departments praised and prayed for their Pompton Lakes brethren.

“Last night our brothers and sisters from Pompton Lakes Fire Department were battling a two-alarm house fire. While attempting to douse the flames five of Pompton Lakes bravest were inside,” posted West Milford Co. 2 on its Facebook.

Wayne Fire Company No. 3 asked “that everyone keep Pompton Lakes FD in your thoughts and prayers” above a photo of firemen standing in front of the shell of the house on its Facebook.

Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., said his office is monitoring the conditions of the firefighters "closely" and pledged "whatever support we can provide to Pompton Lakes and its fearless first responders.

“The fire in Pompton Lakes overnight was tragic and I am praying for the six brave souls who were injured in the blaze," Pascrell said. "The photos of the damage are a harrowing reminder of the danger our firefighters face every day. Every level of government must support them to the fullest extent."

Reporter Katie Sobko contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Pompton Lakes house explosion injures firefighters