STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ – A large explosion followed by a fire erupted at 253 Neptune Drive during the early hours on October 31. Stafford Township Police Department officers, upon arrival, found a severely injured male on the front lawn. The victim was airlifted to Temple University Hospital for emergency care.
Safety precautions led to the evacuation of neighboring homes until authorities declared the area secure. The cause of the explosion remains undetermined.
A joint investigation is underway, spearheaded by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Stafford Township extended gratitude towards all the responding agencies that converged on the scene: StaffordTownship Detective Bureau, Stafford Township Fire Department, Stafford Emergency Medical Services, NJ Natural Gas, Ocean County Fire Marshall, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Crime Scene Investigation, and Berkeley Hazmat Team.
“Their collective efforts were instrumental in managing the crisis and ensuring the safety of the community,” the department said.