Man suffers burns to face, neck following house explosion in Commercial Township, New Jersey
COMMERCIAL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) -- A man was airlifted to the hospital after a house explosion in Cumberland County, New Jersey, early Monday morning.
New Jersey State Police told CBS News Philadelphia the 60-year-old Millville, New Jersey, resident was taken to the hospital with "moderate injuries" after an explosion at the home just before 5 a.m. on May 13.
Estranged family on scene told CBS News Philadelphia that man is Jim DeKnight. His niece, Leah Betchner, said he is a father and lived alone in the home with his dog, Mitchell.
"Really just shock. There's so many things that just run through your mind of like why did this happen? What was going on?" Betchner said.
Off camera, DeKnight's wife told CBS News Philadelphia Monday afternoon he remains hospitalized and is recovering from burns to his face and neck.
"Even though he hasn't been in our lives, we pray for him just in general and we're praying for him to make a full, swift recovery hopefully," Betchner said.
Neighbors said they were rattled awake by the blast, which happened on Battle Lane in Commercial Township.
"I heard a big boom, I thought it was thunder," George Hiles said. "I was sleeping and didn't pay no attention until I heard the helicopters. So I got in my car and came out and checked it out."
"I couldn't believe it, but I thought make a gas leak, maybe?" Hiles said.
Pieces of the partially collapsed home were unrecognizable in the daylight.
Laurel Lake Volunteer Fire and Rescue worked for about two hours -- alongside multiple agencies -- to put out the raging fire.
The assistant chief, Raymond Klecz, said in his 15-year career, he had never responded to a house explosion before Monday.
"Wow. This is not what I expected to wake up to this morning," Klecz said.
Throughout the day, a K9 with a local fire department and a sea of investigators – including those with the state fire marshal's office – were seen in and around the home.
A spokesperson for South Jersey Gas said it is working with emergency response partners.
Cumberland County's officer of emergency management coordinator, Gabriel Scarpa, said no other homes sustained damage. He added no one else was injured.
"The fire is under the investigation, being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's office," Scarpa said.
A New Jersey Department of Community Affairs spokesperson said in an email: "Multiple Division of Fire Safety investigators are on the scene and are being assisted by the County Fire Marshal and Bridgeton Fire Department."
Investigators said the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
