A New Jersey home caught fire and exploded overnight — but miraculously no one was injured because the family had just fled due to flash flooding warnings.
Shocking aerial photos of the Parkview Avenue in North Plainfield show the house reduced nearly to splinters after it exploded and collapsed just before 11:25 p.m. on Monday as heavy downpours wreaked havoc on the tri-state area.
Debris from the blast was left scattered around adjacent yards and on the roofs of neighboring homes, the foundation studs peeking out from underneath the rubble.
The aftermath of an explosion at a house in South Plainfield, N.J. seen on July 15, 2025. LP Media
The house blew up amid heavy downpours that caused flooding in the state. LP Media
An aerial view of the debris at the New Jersey house. LP Media
Fire crews rushed to the scene to find the dwelling engulfed in flames and the four residents initially missing, ABC7 reported.
However, the family was soon found, and explained that all four of them had evacuated earlier when flash-flood alerts were blasted out for the neighborhood — with no idea their house would soon explode.
The homeowners had fled the house prior to the explosion because of the flood warning. LP Media
Debris on top of a car at the house. LP Media
A worker surveying the damage at the South Plainfield house. LP MediaRemnants of the leveled home could be seen strewn across the street late Monday as the flood waters engulfed the roadway.
Some neighboring homes appeared to have also been damaged by the explosion.
It wasn’t immediately clear what sparked the blast but complaints of gas were recorded around the neighborhood at the time.
The home in North Plainfield, NJ, exploded and collapsed just before 11:25 p.m. on Monday as heavy downpours wreaked havoc on the tri-state area. G Dano (FreedomNewsTV)
The home on Parkview Avenue before the explosion. Google StreetNew Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy had earlier declared a state of emergency due to the torrential rain and flash floods as he advised locals to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
In parts of the Garden State, cars and emergency vehicles in towns including Somerville and Plainsville were overwhelmed and partially overturned as roadways were turned into raging rivers.
Still, most flash flood watches and warnings had expired in parts of New Jersey as the rain moved on, but some roads and streets were still flooded as of early Tuesday.
With Post wires
